Jenson Button doubts Max Verstappen will take a break: “If he leaves F1, it’s for good”. Jenson Button shares his view on Max Verstappen’s future in Formula 1.

Verstappen and no sabbatical: Jenson Button believes if he leaves, it will be permanent

2009 Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button has revealed that he has come to understand Max Verstappen well over the course of his career. The four-time world champion secured his titles consecutively between 2021 and 2024, consistently demonstrating his exceptional talent. Last season, however, he narrowly missed out on the most coveted prize, losing the championship battle to McLaren’s Lando Norris by just two points.

The Dutch driver is not someone who is easily discouraged, but the new regulations have left him dissatisfied. Even more concerning for him is the fact that they are currently forcing him to fight on the fringes of the top ten—or only slightly above it. With the expectation that the current rules will remain in place for a relatively short period of four to five years, it is becoming increasingly clear that Verstappen may believe Red Bull’s chances of recovering competitiveness are limited.

Verstappen is not the type to take a break

For this reason, during the recent Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, Max Verstappen openly raised the possibility of retirement. It was a statement that resonated strongly throughout the paddock and is now being taken very seriously by insiders.

During the April break, there was also speculation that Max Verstappen could consider taking a sabbatical year. However, according to Jenson Button, such a move would likely go against the Dutch driver’s personality.

“I don’t think Max Verstappen is the kind of person who takes a year off. In my opinion, he either races or he doesn’t. If he decides to stop and do something else, that’s fine too. Honestly, I think he might be approaching his final appearances in Formula 1. He won’t take a break and then come back. That’s not the Max I’ve known,” said the former British driver.

“Not long ago, he said he wouldn’t race without Lambiase. There are still two years before the engineer’s move to McLaren,”—in reality, that would have to happen by 2028—“so he could leave even earlier. We’ll see. The driver market will be exciting, and a lot could happen in the coming years. Max will definitely be at the center of it. We’re used to seeing him fighting at the front, and now he can’t do that,” Jenson Button told Sky Sports F1, leaving open the possibility of a change in perspective from the Dutch driver.

In summary, Jenson Button’s perspective suggests that Max Verstappen’s future in F1 is a binary choice: total commitment or a permanent exit. As Red Bull faces a steep technical climb under the 2026 regulations, the prospect of the four-time champion walking away from the sport entirely becomes a more realistic scenario with each passing race. For a driver who defines himself by victory, mid-pack battles may simply not be enough to keep him on the grid.