Verstappen's surprise admission he must 'figure out' F1 future

Max Verstappen has suggested for the first time that he has to make a decision about leaving Formula 1, as he admitted he is "beyond" just being frustrated with the current rules.

The four-time world champion has been the most vocal critic of the 2026 cars and particularly the engines, and has made it clear he will not continue racing in F1 if he is not enjoying it.

However, after being eliminated in Q2 in Japan on another difficult weekend for Red Bull, Verstappen went further than ever before in both English and Dutch media appearances in openly speculating about his future.

Asked about there being light at the end of the tunnel with Red Bull's competitive situation, Verstappen said the team would "fix a few things hopefully in the coming weeks, months" then added: "The rest, you already know how I think about stuff, I don't need to mention it again.

"[There is] a lot of stuff also for me personally to figure out."

When asked what that related to, Verstappen said after a pause: "Life. Yeah, life here." He then confirmed that it is related to the current ruleset.

Verstappen strongly dislikes F1's move to a near 50/50 split between electric and internal combustion power and the emphasis on energy management that has created unusual driving demands, especially in qualifying.

He is unhappy at how much the drivers need to prioritise charging the battery and maximising power deployment, at the expense of attacking corners traditionally.

At Suzuka, a classic F1 track where the challenge has been diminished at least slightly by the reduced corner entry speeds caused by the battery charging techniques required, Verstappen was asked how frustrating it is to come to a track he loves with these cars.

"I'm not even frustrated anymore," Verstappen said. "I'm beyond that, so that's a bit...I don't know the right word in English.

"I don't know what to make of it to be honest. Probably no words.

"I just cannot. I don't get upset about it, I don't get disappointed, frustrated by it anymore with what's going on."

This is what is taking Verstappen to a point where he is seriously evaluating his future.

External speculation about Verstappen's future is an ongoing topic in F1 - he was extensively linked with a potential switch from Red Bull to Mercedes over the last two years - but for Verstappen to talk in such terms himself is a new development.

It is a hint that Verstappen has moved beyond being open to the idea of leaving F1 when his Red Bull contract expires at 2028, when he will be just 31 years old, and has now reached a point where he needs to consider his future imminently.

That does not mean Verstappen will walk away mid-season - such an outcome is considered extremely unlikely - but it raises the prospect of him taking up a contract option he is set to have later this year to exit his Red Bull F1 seat at the end of 2026.

This could depend on what package F1 puts together to improve the current rules for 2027.

Red Bull has made a disappointing start to the new rules era with its first-ever in-house engine design but Verstappen is adamant his stance is not based on that.

While he admitted to Dutch media that competitiveness is a factor in how he views the future, the first-order priority for him is enjoyment, especially given the travel demands of a long F1 season.

Verstappen became a father last year when his daughter was born in May, and this year is committing to more racing outside of F1 as he prepares for his first 24-hour GT3 race at the Nurburgring, and looks to expand his own racing team's activities in the real world and in sim racing.

"That brings a big smile on my face for sure," he said of his extracurricular activities.

The same has not been said by Verstappen about F1 this year. While there are some short-term measures being taken to try to reduce the compromised qualifying experience the new rules have introduced - starting this weekend in Japan - this alone will not placate Verstappen.

"It depends on what they decide for next year," Verstappen said.

"For this year, I think they're trying their best, but it's also political, which I fully understand of course from other manufacturers - rightly so.

"I'm not bitter about that or anything. It's also not about me being in the position I am, what P7 to P12? I just hope that it will be just a little bit more fun to drive, as you know.

"Of course, for this year, it will be little tiny changes that doesn't really make a big difference.

"I just hope that the changes are big enough for next year."