Max Verstappen explains new F1 retirement stance as Mercedes make final decision on move

Max Verstappen has explained his current stance on F1 retirement, with his future seemingly set to lie with Red Bull. The Dutchman has been heavily linked with a move to Mercedes, but team principal Toto Wolff reiterated his commitment to incumbent drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix. After Christian Horner was sacked as team principal after the British Grand Prix, debates about Verstappen's future reached fever pitch.

The reigning world champion was reported to be weighing up Mercedes and Red Bull for the 2026 season, but his decision may have been made for him. "Discussions have been taking place over the last weeks and months," Wolff told ORF ahead of the race at Spa-Francorchamps. "So they are all up to date. The direction of travel is definitely that we want to continue with George and Kimi.

"That is the absolute priority. But you can't look past someone like Max and the plans he has for the future. We did that, but I don't think there will be any big surprises."

With a move to Mercedes seemingly off the cards, Verstappen is now well-placed to remain at Red Bull until the end of his contract in 2028. It has been speculated that the four-time world champion could then retire, provided he is content with his achievements in F1, instead pursuing a new career in endurance racing.

Verstappen is relaxed about his retirement plans, though. "People sometimes hang around maybe to create more money, but at the end of the day, that doesn't come first," he told The Athletic. "It's important you're here because of the hunger to win.

"Some people come here to just get the best out of their car because some don't have a winning car. But that's why I think as long as I can do that, and I'm working with the people that I enjoy working with, then, yeah, we'll drive. I don't know when that will stop. Is that 32? Is that 35? 36? I don't know. It's impossible to know."

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The Dutchman went on to hint that his enjoyment of F1 racing is dependent on the machinery underneath him. This does not bode well for his Red Bull future, given that the Milton Keynes squad are currently 288 points behind Constructors' Championship leaders McLaren.

Asked what he enjoys about the sport at the moment, he explained: "Working with all the incredibly talented and smart people within the team, pushing myself in the car to get the best out of it, and the competition, naturally, with all the other drivers.

"Just trying to win at the end of the day. And of course, if you really have no chance to win anymore and I have to drive in the midfield, then fun will disappear very quickly."