P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen issues early retirement update
Max Verstappen has provided an update on his earlier comments about retiring from F1 before Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso. As a four-time world champion at the age of 27, he is on course to break numerous records if his current trajectory continues. Despite Red Bull not providing him with a championship-capable car in 2025, leading to only two wins in the first 12 races, doubts remain about his future with the team. While there were strong links to Mercedes, Toto Wolff emphasized the priority of retaining Kimi Antonelli and George Russell for 2026. Verstappen now hints at racing into his late 30s, stressing the importance of competitiveness and enjoyment over monetary gains. Red Bull seems keen on keeping their star driver, especially with a new team principal and the shift to producing their own power units from 2026 onwards. The discussions around Verstappen’s future in F1 are likely to escalate as the 2026 season progresses, with several teams yet to secure their driver lineups post-2026.
