After finishing eighth in the Japanese Grand Prix, four-time world champion Max Verstappen let slip much more than post-race frustration: an existential doubt about his place in Formula 1. The Red Bull driver says he no longer enjoys the 2026 version of F1, to the point of wondering if all this... "worth it" still a long time.
An eighth-place finish that sounds like an admission of powerlessness
The raw result alone is enough to gauge the unease. At Suzuka, Verstappen started from the back of the top 10 after being eliminated in Q2, then finished eighth without ever being able to truly climb back up the order, stuck behind Pierre Gasly. While Kimi Antonelli secured the victory and took the championship lead, Red Bull, on the contrary, displayed the characteristics of a team that had fallen back into mediocrity. Verstappen himself spoke of a team now committed to the "Battle of the middle of the grid", something unthinkable just a few months ago on a circuit where he had reigned supreme.
A feeling of unease that goes beyond Red Bull's poor performance alone.
My disappointment with Verstappen isn't limited to the weakness of his car. After the race, he explained that his problem wasn't simply finishing in P7 or P8, but rather that he no longer enjoys the way driving is required in this new era. In his view, the sport now places too much emphasis on energy management and not enough on pure racing. The driver considers this approach almost contrary to the spirit of F1 and questions the very point of remaining in the paddock if he no longer finds the enjoyment that propelled him to the top.
The 2026 revolution, a promise of modernity that has become a source of controversy
As a reminder, F1 2026 is based on a major overhaul: smaller and lighter cars, the removal of DRS, active aerodynamics, 100% sustainable fuel, and power sharing between internal combustion and electric motors. On paper, the sport sees this as a technical revolution designed to make the cars more agile and modern. But this new architecture has also increased the importance of energy management during races, precisely what Verstappen has been criticizing for months. As recently as February, Red Bull was still claiming that there was no "No worries" as for his commitment, despite his already public reservations about these new cars.
A suspended calendar, a tense paddock
The timing gives his comments even more weight. The championship now enters a five-week break before Miami, following the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian rounds due to the Gulf conflict. This break is intended to allow F1 stakeholders to meet and review the new regulations and consider potential adjustments, especially as concerns now extend beyond the spectacle to include safety after Oliver Bearman's horrific crash at Suzuka. Verstappen, for his part, has already indicated that he will use this hiatus to explore other programs, notably the Nürburgring 24 Hours, a further sign that he has options beyond F1.
Verstappen is contractually tied to Red Bull until the end of 2028. Will he see out his contract? We'll find out in the coming months…
