Is Max Verstappen really thinking about retiring from Formula 1?. Max Verstappen has stated that the next step in his Formula 1 career will be his last.

Max Verstappen has stated that the next step in his Formula 1 career will be his last. The three-time world champion has never hidden the fact that his retirement from racing is not far off, and he does not intend to follow the paths of champions like Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton. However, it is unclear how long Verstappen will stay in the sport, or whether his retirement will happen as a Red Bull driver.

Mercedes has never concealed its interest in the Dutch driver, though that interest has been tempered following the announcement of Antonelli as Lewis Hamilton’s successor. Aston Martin, on the other hand, seems to be more persistent, with Lawrence Stroll reportedly targeting Max Verstappen after hiring Adrian Newey. The aim of the team’s boss is to create a dream team by reuniting Adrian Newey and Max Verstappen. According to RacingNews365, Max Verstappen shared his thoughts on his Formula 1 future with Sky Italia: “My next step, if there is one, will be my last. It could also mean renewing my current contract. Everything is still possible at the moment.”

“It’s not even something I’m thinking about right now because there are so many things I want to do better this year, and everything that will come in the future is still far off. I’ve been part of this team for a long time,” Verstappen reflected. “Every driver in the paddock wants to win. It’s very easy to switch teams, but I don’t want my career to be marked that way. I don’t want to be part of four or five different teams. I want to build a long and stable relationship with everyone in the team, and I want to feel at home somewhere. Changing teams isn’t for me, and it’s not something I want to do at this stage of my career,” he concluded.

His current contract is set to expire in 2028, but many speculate that there could be an exit clause allowing Max Verstappen to join another team. Could Max Verstappen surprise us by switching teams? Or will he take an unexpected step and announce his retirement? For now, as Verstappen himself has said, it’s a distant thought, but only time will tell what surprises lie ahead in his future decisions.