After the first three Grands Prix of the 2026 season, one thing is clear: Max Verstappen has been absent in terms of performance. At the Japanese GP, Red Bull struggled in midfield battles, delivering results more in line with mid-pack teams than top contenders. At the end of the race, Verstappen, finishing behind Pierre Gasly’s Alpine, reflected on how the current technical situation doesn’t allow him to achieve much more than what was possible. Meanwhile, reports from the Netherlands suggest that the upcoming F1 break could see the four-time world champion seriously considering retirement. “I can accept finishing eighth, but fighting like this isn’t enjoyable,” he told the press. “At the moment, I’m not having fun doing what I do.”
Verstappen finishes behind Gasly: “We couldn’t do much better than this”
It was another subdued weekend for Red Bull and Max Verstappen in Japan, as he finished the race at Suzuka in eighth place, behind Pierre Gasly’s Alpine. The current performance deficit is preventing the Dutch driver from displaying the extra edge that has always set him apart. “At least the start was better,” he commented after the race, pointing out perhaps the only positive aspect of the weekend. “I think there was a lot of balance with Pierre; at times maybe his pace was even slightly better, but that’s easy to say now. Overtaking was really difficult—you could pass, but then you’d get overtaken again because the battery would drain. I tried once and managed it, but on the main straight, there was no battery left.”
The duel lasted until the closing laps, almost ending in a photo finish. “I tried to pressure him, hoping for a mistake or a lock-up, but it didn’t happen. So we finished very close. With all the difficulties in the car, I tried to maximize what I could, because yesterday’s potential was the same as today’s. It was incredibly tough, even if honestly, I feel good in the car.” His words underline that the RB20 currently suffers a significant performance deficit.
Verstappen hints at retirement: Dutch media suggest the break could be decisive
The Max Verstappen of 2025, so aggressive and close to pulling off historic wins, seems a distant memory. The performance drop in Japan has placed the four-time champion in battles typically fought by midfield teams. “I think Alpine is doing a good job, but obviously we’re not where we want to be. At the moment, we’re more in the midfield fight rather than at the front,” he admitted. The last time Verstappen finished outside the top five for three consecutive races was nine years ago.
Adding to this scenario is a technical regulation that Max Verstappen has never fully accepted, ever since the pre-season tests, when he described this F1 as “on steroids.” According to Dutch media, this situation could push the Red Bull driver to consider retiring from Formula 1. “Life goes on. Life isn’t just Formula 1. There are many other things you can do,” he told Viaplay after the race. “To continue, you have to enjoy it. I’ll decide about my future in the coming weeks or months.”
This mindset aligns with Max Verstappen’s growing involvement in non-F1 projects, including increasingly frequent GT racing. “I can accept finishing seventh or eighth, but it’s not natural to not enjoy all the benefits that come with it,” he said on BBC Radio 5. “You know you can’t always dominate, finish first or second, or fight for the podium every race, but when you’re seventh or eighth and not enjoying all the advantages, it’s not a natural feeling for an F1 driver. There comes a point where it’s simply not what I want to do. Sure, I try to adapt, but the way you have to compete isn’t enjoyable. It’s the exact opposite of racing.”
“You can earn a lot of money,” he continued, “but it’s not about the money, because this has always been my passion. You start asking yourself whether it’s worth it or if you’d rather spend time at home with family or friends. Right now, I think I’m 100% committed and I keep trying, but the way I have to push 100% doesn’t feel healthy because I’m not enjoying what I do.”
As he has repeated several times, it’s not the results themselves that worry him, but the trend set by the current F1 rules, which revealed weaknesses even in Japan. “People might say, ‘You’ve won so many championships and races, and now you’re complaining just because the car isn’t good.’ I see it differently. I have many other projects I’m passionate about. GT3 racing, for example. Not only do I race personally, but I also work with the team. It’s really exciting and fun to develop these cars, and I absolutely want to continue doing this in the coming years. If I were to stop here, it wouldn’t mean I wouldn’t do other things. I’ll always continue to enjoy many other aspects of my life. I’m sorry that it has to be about just this. It is what it is, and there’s no need for anyone to pity me.”
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