Verstappen unsure of F1 future amid calendar and format concerns

Max Verstappen is unsure of his future in Formula 1 and has cast doubts over remaining in the sport beyond the expiration of his current Red Bull contract.

Verstappen has faced calls to quit F1 after voicing his concerns over the expanding calendar and complaints regarding Formula 1’s experimentation with sprint races.

The two-time World Champion’s contract with Red Bull expires in 2028.

With a new F1 Sprint format introduced for this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Verstappen was asked how the changes impact his decision about his future.

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The Dutchman reiterated that his concerns are composed of a number of factors, predominantly the expanding race calendar.

“I’ve always said anyway that even if there weren’t any more sprint races, but if we keep expanding the calendar and the whole weekend is that long, at one point you question yourself ‘is it worth it?” Verstappen said, as quoted by BBC Sport.

“I do like racing, I do like winning. I know that of course the salary and everything, you have a good life, but is it actually a good life? I think sometimes you get to a point in your career where maybe you want to do other stuff.

“I know that I have a contract until the end of 2028, and then we’ll review again. But I do feel that if it’s getting at one point too much, then it’s time for a change. I think you always have to be talking to yourself and looking at yourself [asking] ‘are you still very motivated and do you love what you do?’

“At the moment, that is definitely the case, but there will for sure be a point where you want to do maybe other stuff as well.”

Although the 2023 championship is still in its early stages, Verstappen looks primed and ready to become World Champion for a third consecutive season.

Despite his success, there are clearly questions that Verstappen is looking for answers to.

“Sometimes, this sounds very weird for people from the outside, because they’re like, ‘oh, yeah, you’re in Formula 1, you’re winning!’

“And probably I would have said the same when I was in their position, but once you’re in it, it’s not always how it looks like or how people think your life is, right?

“I mean, yes, it’s great. I mean it’s amazing, I can do a lot of things. I’m very independent, but there is always a limit to certain things.

“I think every person is a bit different. It also depends a bit what you want out of your life, right? Some people just love racing, and that’s the only thing they know or the only thing they want to do.

“I am probably a bit more in the middle. I mean, I do love racing but I also want to do other kind of racing and then you can’t combine the two, or set up other kinds of stuff.

“I think when you do that amount of races, not only drivers, but also staff and the team, it’s a lot of people who will struggle with that.”

The Verstappen-Red Bull partnership has been formidable and is a proven recipe for world championship success.

Given the strength of the partnership, it would be fair to speculate that Verstappen could be regarded as an F1 great in the future, and even match or exceed the record of seven world championships held by Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher.

Asked whether becoming the sport’s ‘greatest’ driver is something that motivates him, Verstappen said:  “No, I’m not interested in winning seven or eight titles.

“I mean, if you have the car to do so, then great. But even if it doesn’t, I’m already happy, so it’s ok.”