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Questions have been raised over Max Verstappen’s future in Formula 1 amid his opposition to the sport’s direction.
Ex-Formula 1 driver Martin Brundle believes it is not yet time for Max Verstappen to retire from F1, despite the recent turmoil at the Australian Grand Prix that ended Verstappen’s impressive streak of consecutive race finishes. Verstappen’s brake issue led to his first Did Not Finish since the 2022 Melbourne event, but Brundle indicates that the three-time World Champion still has the drive and passion to continue in the sport. Verstappen’s contract runs until the 2028 season, but his discontent with the increasing number of races on the calendar and the sprint weekend format could be factors in his future decisions. Carlos Sainz capitalized on Verstappen’s misfortune to clinch his third career victory with Ferrari, although doubts linger about whether Ferrari would have triumphed even if Verstappen’s Red Bull had been in full health. Despite the uncertainties, Brundle feels that Verstappen’s competitive spirit remains intact, hinting that his retirement may only be considered when that fiery passion begins to dissipate.
