Max Verstappen has made his final choice about retiring from F1 next season.

Max Verstappen has made his final choice about retiring from F1 next season.

Max Verstappen has cleared up any doubts about his near future in Formula 1 after some talk he might quit the sport.

Verstappen, 28, won four F1 world championships in a row from 2021 to 2024. Still, he often mentions that he might leave F1 when he no longer enjoys it or feels motivated.

Right now, the Dutch driver who races for Red Bull is in seventh place in the 2026 championship after four races. He’s 74 points behind the leader, Kimi Antonelli, since he had to retire in China and hasn’t made the podium in the other three races in Australia, Japan, and Miami.

According to De Telegraaf (shared by Crash), Verstappen has stopped rumors about retirement but hasn’t promised he’ll race for Red Bull in 2027.

He told De Telegraaf, “I hope people keep their word, but I can confirm I will stay in Formula 1. I wouldn’t take a break—I’m not that kind of person. If I stop racing, I stop completely. That’s not something I’m thinking about right now.

“I’m not rushing to decide on a 2027 team. I’d love to stay with Red Bull forever, as I’ve always said. But that choice doesn’t have to happen today. There’s more to it than just the F1 contract—I’m also talking about other projects with Red Bull.”

Last year, Verstappen finished just two points behind the world champion Lando Norris, after dominating the four previous seasons. This season, his best result so far is fifth place in Miami in early May.

He stood on the podium in the last 10 races of 2025 and won the final three in Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.

Red Bull has struggled a bit in early 2026, admitting problems with their car. Verstappen and teammate Isack Hadjar are working hard to keep up, and Verstappen has been openly critical of the car several times.