The end of the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix surprised everyone, as Red Bull's iconic driver, Max Verstappen dropped hints of retirement from Formula 1, amid his disappointment with the new regulations.
The Dutch racer publicly called out the new 2026 F1 regulations, as he labelled the new format of racing as "Mario Kart".
Jos Verstappen makes big claim on Max Verstappen's retirement
Amid serious speculations regarding four-time World champion's retirement, Max Verstappen's father, Jos Verstappen has made big claims which could increase the tension among fans.
In a interview with De Telegraaf, Jos Verstappen opened up on Max's retirement rumors, as he revealed that the Dutch driver is working hard with Red Bull to become more competitive, but also mentioned that competing with the current generation of cars is not attracting him anymore
"You're told it's just a matter of getting used to it, but I'm certain Max won't enjoy it this way. Of course, he always tries to make the best of it. That's a separate issue. He's doing everything he can with Red Bull to become more competitive, but racing in these cars doesn't challenge him," said Jos Verstappen
Jos Verstappen also revealed that he himself is not having a good feeling about Max, as the Dutch racer might lose his motivation, and he sees this could become a big problem.
“To be honest, I'm a bit worried that Max might lose his motivation. He used to think racing in a Formula 1 car was the best thing in the world, but now I'm rather pessimistic about it. I'd like to say it wasn't the case, but I do see this becoming a problem with regard to his future,” added Jos Verstappen
Jos further said that unless some major changes take place, there is no way Max can make a big difference in the ongoing season.
"They really do listen to him, I'm convinced of that. It's possible they might make a few minor changes to the regulations this year, but that won't make a difference. I hope there will be major changes for next season or, if necessary, the year after,” concluded Jos Verstappen
Max Verstappen's nightmare 2026 F1 season
In the ongoing season, Max Verstappen got off to a challenging start, as he is sitting in ninth place in the Drivers' Championship with only 12 points.
The four-time World champion had to settle with a P6 finish in the Australian Grand Prix, and endured a late-race retirement (DNF) because of a mechanical failure at the Chinese Grand Prix. In the Japanese Grand Prix, Verstappen managed to get a P8 finish, as he struggled with battery deployment.