Opinion
Formula 1 can and will survive without Max Verstappen, but we as fans desperately need him.
The pinnacle of world motorsport has been on a break for far too many weeks, and Formula 1 fans are stirring in their seats for some on-track action.
However, while the track may be quiet, noise from the paddock is echoing throughout the F1 community after rumors of Max Verstappen's retirement began circulating.
Max Verstappen, who lost out on his first championship in five years this past December, has been extremely vocal about his dislike of the new 2026 regulations.
When Formula 1 initially revealed the rules in 2023, Verstappen was very critical of the sport’s new direction, vouching for immediate technical changes of the regulations.
“I’ve seen the data already on the sim. To me it looks pretty terrible,” said Verstappen in 2023. “It looks like it's going to be an ICE [Internal Combustion Engine] competition, so whoever has the strongest engine will benefit. It’ll become very expensive to find a few extra horsepower.”
However, as we have seen in the first few races of this new era, the technical shortcomings of these new rules may end up pushing Formula 1’s most exciting talent out of his favorite sport.
Why Verstappen would leave Formula 1
F1 drivers are often critical of brand new regulations when they come out. As competitors at the top of their field, when their team underperforms at the start of a new era, chances are drivers may steer some blame towards the new rules.
Red Bull Racing at the launch of their 2026 car in January | Red Bull Content Pool
However, one of the main issues with these new 2026 regulations is the artificial feeling that drivers have reported from behind the wheel.
With Formula 1 now using a 50/50 power split between the Internal Combustion Engine and Electric Motor [MGU-K], on track overtakes are often determined by drivers' ability to harvest energy into the motor, and not traditional racecraft or skill.
In these new regulations, when a driver makes their way past a competitor, they will usually have already exhausted their battery supply. This then makes it almost impossible for drivers to defend, allowing their rival to fly back past on the next straight with full battery.
This type of racing has led to increased overtakes in 2026 compared to the last set of regulations. Nevertheless, when the conveniently named “yo-yo racing” results in the sport’s golden boy discussing a possible retirement, clearly something needs to be changed.
“I’m just trying to fix things. Even if I eventually decide to step away, I want this sport to remain respectable,” said Verstappen in a recent event with Viaplay. “Things have to change. If they do, I’d consider bringing back the V10 or V8 engines.”
Aside from Verstappen’s recent criticism of the current regulations, the most significant evidence of a potential retirement is the recent announcement that Gianpiero Lambiase will be leaving Red Bull Racing by 2028.
The pair flourished together since Verstappen joined Red Bull Racing in 2016, and his contribution to the Dutchman's success cannot be understated.
Verstappen winning on his Red Bull debut at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix
Why F1 Needs Verstappen
Most Formula 1 fans, whether long-term supporters of the sport or newcomers in the world of motorsport, will be crossing their fingers hoping these rumors don’t come true.
Because Verstappen is one of us.
In the past, one of the common criticisms of Formula 1 and modern sport in general is that athletes have become P.R. robots; trained to suppress their true selves and just stick to the script.
Verstappen is not one of those people.
Back when he joined Formula 1 in 2016, the sport was at an all-time low. Viewership was down, F1 was in an era of pure dominance by Mercedes-Benz, and the sport was a shadow of its former glory.
However, Verstappen brought a breath of fresh air back to a struggling sport.
Whether it was standout drives like his debut win for Red Bull in Spain or his legendary wet drive in Brazil, Verstappen's fearless approach to racing solidified him as the reason to watch Formula 1.
While this did make Verstappen a bit of a wildcard in his early years, this mentality proved to benefit the Red Bull driver on track, making him one of, if not the most exceptional drivers of the 21st century.
Aside from the excitement he creates on track, Verstappen's unapologetic attitude is the main reason we need him to stick around.
Under the current ownership of Liberty Media, the sport is a constantly shifting river of new ideas. Formula 1 is hitting record highs worldwide and growing rapidly in the United States, but the sport is constantly being pulled in different directions.
As a fan first, and a driver second, many fans including myself feel the sport needs a voice to represent our feelings at the big table; especially as Formula 1 moves farther away from its roots.
Verstappen has his fair share of critics, and clearly fans don’t always agree with his take on the sport, but in a sport that is constantly evolving, voices like his are what ensure Formula 1 never loses the essence of pure racing.
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