According to Formula Medicine mental coach Riccardo Ceccarelli, Max Verstappen’s public frustration over Formula 1 regulations is part of a broader psychological dynamic. He believes the Dutch driver is simultaneously putting pressure on the FIA to adjust the rules and on Red Bull to deliver a more competitive car, while also making it clear that he does not see a real exit from the sport in his future.
Stefano Domenicali recently stated in an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com: “Sport is bigger than each one of us, than anyone. And this is something everyone must remember. Everyone means everyone, no exceptions.” His comments were widely interpreted as a direct response to Verstappen’s repeated suggestions that he could leave Formula 1 if the sport continues in its current direction.
“The sport is bigger than anyone”
Asked to interpret Stefano Domenicali’s words, Riccardo Ceccarelli offered a balanced view.
“Yes, undoubtedly it is a very firm statement, but at the same time it is also, overall, a reasonable one. Stefano, when he speaks, rarely says anything out of place. Formula 1 has existed since 1950 and has gone through eras of crisis as well as great glamour,” he explained.
“Today it is one of the most globally recognized sports and has regained a young audience. It is certainly not a single driver who can change the fate of Formula 1, even if that driver is a champion like Verstappen. The world of Grands Prix will definitely survive Max if the Dutchman decides to leave.”
When asked whether he was surprised by Stefano Domenicali taking such a firm stance, Ceccarelli added:
“I think Stefano said something that, in his role, is almost obvious, but also absolutely correct. Of course, when a driver like Verstappen complains, he must in some way be listened to. Champions like him have always been willing to challenge themselves. And clearly, he is one of those drivers who wants ever more competitive cars in order to prove his value.”
“I also want to add that Verstappen’s ‘cry’ should be listened to by Formula 1 and, at least in part, taken into account. Because Max is expressing something many fans are also asking for: to rebalance the regulations so that the driver makes more of the difference, rather than energy management. His pure speed should be what matters most, not the ability to optimise the electric deployment of the power unit.”
Is Verstappen really threatening to retire?
“No, I think this is partly part of the game,” Riccardo Ceccarelli said. “It is Max expressing frustration and, in a way, shouting into the wind. I understand it, because in his mind he believes that with equal machinery he can beat anyone. He is a champion, and winners think like that: driving ability should matter more than energy management.”
“It is right that he complains in order to try to change these regulations, which are still under review, so that they move in a direction that satisfies him. The balance between combustion and electric power can be revised so that corners do not become, as Alonso said, a ‘charging station’, but instead braking becomes again the place where drivers truly show who has more skill.”
“At the same time, he should not push too hard in trying to force the governing bodies into decisions that only follow his direction. There is a risk of stretching things too far in order to make his voice heard.”
Psychological strategy or Red Bull pressure?
But is Verstappen’s approach purely a psychological game with the regulators, or also a way of pushing Red Bull, which has built a strong power unit but may have misjudged the RB22?
“I think it is both,” Riccardo Ceccarelli replied. “Because the most frustrating thing for a winning driver is not having a car that allows you to fight at the front, and Max is definitely not someone who accepts that easily. He is someone who always wants the chance to win, which is still what matters most to him.”
“The four-time world champion reminds me of Alonso. When he was young, Alonso used to say he would retire from Formula 1 very early. I am convinced that if Fernando had won the titles he deserved, he probably would have done so. But the fact he is still here, with anger and determination, is because he knows he did not fully achieve what his talent deserved, and he remains attached to that dream. I see Max in a similar way: he is not someone who runs away, but someone who wants to win.”
“Verstappen will not escape from F1, but he is trying to use his status to stay in it. To be clear: I cannot imagine him doing GT racing at the Nürburgring for the rest of his career. He is still young, and he still has a huge hunger to win, win, and win again.”
Riccardo Ceccarelli’s insights peel back the layers of Verstappen’s “frustrated” persona to reveal a calculated competitor. Comparing him to Alonso is particularly apt; both are “pure” drivers who despise feeling like passengers to their own technology. While Domenicali is right that F1 is bigger than any one name, losing its benchmark driver in 2026 would be a massive blow to the sport’s credibility. It seems the “exit threat” is less of a suitcase packed by the door and more of a loud knock on the principal’s office.
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