Following the Japanese Grand Prix, the final round of the championship before the April break, Max Verstappen’s comments raised significant questions about his future in Formula 1. In addition to his early-season struggles during the first three race weekends, the four-time world champion strongly criticised the new technical regulations introduced this year, to the point where he seriously considered the possibility of stepping away from the sport at the end of the season.
This uncertainty has been further fuelled by the recent confirmation that Gianpiero Lambiase, his race engineer, will join McLaren in 2028. However, recent paddock rumours have not ruled out the possibility that Verstappen himself could eventually follow Lambiase to Woking, with Oscar Piastri potentially moving to Red bull as a replacement. In any case, the Dutch driver’s future remains open and undecided, although Verstappen himself has now offered an important indication of his priorities.
The first objective
Appearing at an event in Amsterdam, the driver responded to a question from Dutch outlet Formule1.NL about his future ambitions: whether he would prioritise a fifth Formula 1 world title or a victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Verstappen replied decisively:
“The fifth world championship. I think I can still win Le Mans when I’m a bit older. This season, that world title is not going to happen. However, you can still compete at Le Mans until you’re 45.”
Interestingly, Verstappen also addressed what career path he might have pursued had he not become a Formula 1 driver:
“I also love MotoGP. When I was young, I used to race those mini bikes too, but I quickly realised I had more talent on four wheels than on two. Maybe I would have become a race marshal or something like that, haha. No, I don’t think so. I have no idea, but I’ve always been involved in motorsport.”
Max Verstappen’s comments therefore suggest that despite his frustrations with the current state of F1 technology, his competitive fire for the championship remains his primary driver. While the allure of the Triple Crown and endurance racing is clearly on his radar, he recognizes that time is on his side for Le Mans, whereas the opportunity to cement his legacy as one of F1’s all-time greats requires his full attention right now. For fans of the Dutchman, the message is clear: he isn’t finished with the pinnacle of single-seater racing just yet.
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