Max Verstappen shuts down exit rumours after Nurburgring 24 Hours decision

Max Verstappen has said he wants to stay in F1 and work with the FIA to improve the sport’s new regulations.

The Dutchman has spoken to the media ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix and previously has been critical of the new rules in Formula 1.

AFP

Verstappen had expressed doubts over whether he would stay at the pinnacle of motorsport due to issues with the 2026 cars.

He has made several comparisons to Mario Kart and joked the game serves as preparation for a Grand Prix weekend, while also likening it to Formula E.

Additionally, this week the 28-year-old confirmed he would be participating in the Nurburgring 24 Hours race between the Miami and Canadian Grands Prix, which cast further doubts about his future.

However, Verstappen revealed in a press conference in Shanghai that he does still want to stay in Formula 1, despite his comments and outside interests.

He said: “I don’t want to leave, really, I wish I had a bit more fun but I’m also doing other stuff that is a lot of fun.

“I get to race the Nordschleife and I hope in the coming years I get to do Spa [24 Hours], hopefully Le Mans.

“So I’m combining stuff to find other stuff I find really fun as well.

“I have my [Verstappen Racing] team going on, so I have a lot of distractions at the same time, positive distractions I would call it.

“But at the same time it’s a bit conflicting because I don’t really enjoy driving the car, but I do enjoy working with all the people in the team and from the engine department as well.

“It’s almost like a bit of a mind… I can’t swear, it’s a 5k [fine] now!

Avalon.red

“I don’t want to leave so I also hope it gets better. I’ve had discussions with F1 and the FIA and we are working towards something and hopefully that will improve everything.”

He finished sixth at the Australian Grand Prix after crashing in qualifying due to a car failure, moving up 14 places from 20th.

The Dutchman will be hoping to start at the front of the grid in Shanghai and see the performance of Red Bull’s car without having to overtake backmarkers.

Last summer, Verstappen was rumoured to be in talks with Toto Wolff to make a move to Mercedes ahead of this season, but this did not come to fruition.

Meanwhile, the four-time world champion’s contract at Red Bull will end in 2028, meaning he would have the option to move to another team or somewhere else in motorsport.

Verstappen wouldn’t be the first former champion to take part in other showpiece motorsports events.

Fernando Alonso took a break from Formula 1 to win Le Mans in 2018 and 2019 before returning to F1 two years later.

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Verstappen also isn’t the only driver complaining about the latest cars, with Lando Norris also concerned about the new power units.

He said: “You can have a 30, 40, 50 km/h speed [difference]

“When someone hits someone at that speed, you’re going to fly, you’re going to go over the fence and you’re going to do a lot of damage to yourself and maybe to others.

“That’s a pretty horrible thing to think about.”

Meanwhile, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton stated that lifting and coasting was ‘not what racing is about’.

The governing body’s single-seater director, Nikolas Tombazis revealed the FIA will review the backlash when they have more data after China.