Max Verstappen: World champion doubts F1 future amid schedule and format concerns

Max Verstappen says he is unsure if he will continue to participate in Formula 1 after his current Red Bull contract expires in 2028; the favorite Dutch driver to win his third consecutive driver’s title this season; watch the Azerbaijan GP qualifying live on Friday at 2pm

Max Verstappen is chasing a third consecutive F1 world championship

Remaining Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has reiterated his doubts about continuing to participate in the sport after the expiration of his current Red Bull contract in 2028.

Verstappen is clearly the favorite to claim a third consecutive driver’s title after a strong start to the 2023 season, but has recently suggested that changes are coming to the sport – particularly the introduction of more Sprint races – could cause him to leave the race sooner rather than later.

Since Verstappen made those remarks in March, a new Sprint weekend format has been introduced that will debut at this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, live on Sky Sports F1.

When asked how that development has influenced his thinking, Verstappen suggested that it’s not just Sprint races but a number of other factors, most notably a 23-race project schedule. ants will develop in the future.

“I have to be careful with what I say now,” Verstappen told reporters in Baku on Wednesday. “Anyway I always say that even if there’s no more sprints, if we keep expanding the calendar and the whole weekend is this long, there’s going to be a point where you ask yourself ‘is it worth it? “

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Max Verstappen admits he’s not a big fan of the Sprint format and doesn’t believe the new format will have a significant impact.

“I love racing, I love to win. I know that of course the salary and everything, you have a good life, but is that really a good life? I think sometimes you reach a good life. point in your career where you might want to do other things.

“I know I have a contract until the end of 2028 and then we’ll look at it again. But I really feel that if at some point it becomes too much, then it’s time for a change. I think you should always talk to yourself and look at yourself [asking] ‘Are you still very active and do you enjoy what you do?’

“For now, that’s certainly the case, but there will certainly be times when you want to do other things as well.”

‘A lot of people will struggle’ with growing F1 schedule

Verstappen came out on top in an intense battle with Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton to claim his first title in 2021, before dominating to retain the drivers’ crown in 2022 with a record 15 wins. in the race.

Red Bull seems poised for more success with their RB19 type in the field in 2023 and the team’s incredible early-season pace has many wondering if their rivals can catch up first. when applying new engine regulations in 2026 or not.

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After a dramatic first Australian GP win, the Sky Sports F1 Podcast team debates whether Max Verstappen will claim his best Formula 1 win in Melbourne

Verstappen said: “Sometimes this sounds very strange to people from the outside, because they’re like, ‘oh yeah, you’re in Formula 1, you’re winning!’ And I would probably say the same thing when I was in their place, but once you’re in it, it’s not always what it looks like or what people think your life is like, right?

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

“I think everyone is a little bit different. It also depends a bit on what you want in your life, right? Some people just love racing, and that’s the only thing they know or the only thing. I’m probably a little bit more in the middle I mean, I love racing but I also want to do other types of racing and then you can’t combine the two or set up other types of work. other tools.

“I think when you do that amount of races, not just the drivers but also the staff and the team, there’s going to be a lot of people struggling with that.”

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Check out all of Max Verstappen’s passes from the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix where he started in P15 and finished in P2

The combination of Verstappen’s driving excellence and Red Bull’s dominance has led to speculation whether the Dutchman can go on to compete and surpass the record seven world championships held by Hamilton and Michael. Schumacher holding or not.

Asked if being the sport’s ‘greatest’ driver motivated him, Verstappen replied: “No, I’m not interested in winning seven or eight titles.

“I mean, if you have a car to do that, that’s great. But even if I didn’t, I’d be happy, so that’s okay.”

The Formula 1 season continues with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from April 28-30, with the first Sprint weekend of 2023 being fully broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. Watch Sprint on Saturday at 2:30pm and race on Sunday at 12pm. Get sports in the sky