P1 with Matt and Tommy - Will Max Verstappen RETIRE from F1 this year?

Episode Date: April 2, 2026

With Max making some alarming statements about how he's not interested in racing these F1 cars, we try to answer some questions about his potential retirement. Is it a power play to force a regulation change? Would he still feel the same if he was fighting at the front? And what would F1 look like without Max Verstappen? Sign up to our Patreon for just $5 a month! You'll get access to every P1 episode ad-free, extended versions of every 2026 race review, early access to tickets & merch, and access to our Discord server where you can chat with us and other F1 fans! Click here to sign up now: http://patreon.com/mattp1tommyFollow us on socials! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, Twitch, YouTube and TikTok. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello everybody and welcome back to the P1 podcast with Matt and Tommy. It is time for one of many podcasts over this spring break of Formula One that we are currently in. And this is a big topic. This is something to really deep dive and discuss because there is a genuine possibility that Max Verstappen retires. From Formula One at the end of this year, lots of course. quotes, lots of things that he's said after the Japanese Grand Prix. And Tommy, talk to me. Big Max fan, of course, that you are.

And you're a pessimist as well. So do I even bear to ask whether he's retiring? Look, it's maybe no surprise that he's not happy. We're talking to why there's many reasons. But he's obviously not enjoying Formula One at all. and yeah after Japan he did a quite insane interview to BBC where he really opened up and talked about whether it was worth it

and also the talk in the Dutch media who are obviously very close to him and know him personally saying that this is a really strong possibility now and he's really considering it which is concerning for a lot of Max fans around the world you included and I think should be concerning in general, you know, whether you like Max or not, I think to lose for

Stappan out of Formula One would be a big shockwave out of it would just be a proper, I think, negative for the sport. When you have the legends like Hamilton and Alonzo getting towards the end of their career as well, could well leave Formula One in a very interesting

state when you lose big characters that, you know, I know it's only a sport, but it also, it is a bit of a pantomime as well where you have your villains, you have your your people you support and people you don't support and we might lose some of that that character within

the sport if Max does decide to go. Yeah, it's a massive character. I mean, just look at last year and, you know, we said it so many times how not, well, probably quite boring. Last season would have been without Max just happened and what he did

and whether you love him or hate him, he is a amazing character in the sport and he makes Formula One more exciting whether whether you enjoy the way he races or not you can't deny

that the way he goes about his racing is what makes Formula One so exciting and it would be a massive loss even if you're not a Max fan well maybe I don't know maybe if you don't actually like him you might not be too bothered but I think there will be a lot of people

that care especially those that came out last year as not particularly liking him and then at the end going you know what I don't mind Max that those people will also miss Max for happen. Now he's of course told the BBC as well that he's not enjoying the whole formula and that you just think about whether it's worth it. He's said that he's basically questioned whether he would enjoy being more at home with his family. Of course he's had a kid recently and also whether seeing his friends more would be better than the sport that he clearly isn't enjoying. Now the

question I think we need to answer first if we can is do we think he's actually serious. So for me, I think he is being serious. I think Max is never afraid to be vocal about how he's feeling. Whether he would walk away is another step. There's a, you know, you can be serious. You can say I'm very much contemplating leaving, but actually throwing in the one thing that you've worked all your life for, he clearly loves as well. There's no denying here. We're not sat here going, IMAX is here for the money. He'll stay for that. We know the reasons why he is where he is today.

It's because he loves motorsport. And he's done things at the Nuremberg ring. And we know that he has ideas and plans to do more endurance racing and so on and so forth. So he loves motorsport and he loves Formula One to the core. That's why I think he's being so vocal. Do I think he's serious that he will retire? I think yes.

I think that he would take that step considering his family circumstances and everything else. That's not to say he wouldn't come back if F1 sorted their life out. I think that would also be a consideration for him. But I think he's very much in a case right now in his life

where he doesn't want to waste it and if he genuinely isn't enjoying it, then he can walk away. Absolutely. I do think he is very serious about this. He's been very vocal even before these regulations came in and the season that he's had so far about how he's not going to stick around in Formula One forever,

he doesn't care that much about trying to get every record under the sun and win eight world championships, so he can be the statistical greatest of all time. And at the end of the day, he's sacrificed a lot. He's very honest about the sacrifices that his family have made and everything. you know, these drivers for this amazing life that they have, it's hard to feel too sorry for them because they're driving Formula One cars and they're jet setting all over the world and, you know, they're making a fortune.

But they do have to sacrifice a lot of life to be in that position. And now he's had a kid, he's now questioning, you know, do I want to do this? And at the end of the day, while it's maybe insane for us to think it has, as a job, it is his job. And if the only thing that is satisfying about your job, and this is the case for a lot of Formula One drivers, is the thing they like the most is driving a Formula One car and going racing because they certainly don't like traveling all over the world.

They don't like sitting and talking to the journalists and everything else, and they're always complaining about how they're traveling all over the world. I know, in their private jets. But they're complaining about, you know, too many races. they don't like the media, all this kind of stuff. But it's worth it for that adrenaline rush and the satisfaction they get driving a Formula One car. So if he doesn't enjoy driving a Formula One car,

it's understandable that he's like, what's the point? So I do think he is serious about it because he loves motorsport through and through and he clearly does not enjoy this. And there's so many other ways for him to enjoy himself. Now, this next question is probably the biggest one of all. It comes from P1

Patreon member Lumixion. Is Max Max potentially using this as a bargaining

chip to try and force the FIA to change the regulations sooner? I think

this just kind of comes hand in hand with how he's feeling at the moment.

Max, I don't believe is trying to use his position to make change.

I think if it comes because of the how he's being, then that's great. But I think the Max is also very realistic that they can't just change these regs with a

click of your fingers. There's been a huge commitment from massive manufacturers to create these fundamentally flawed, but still very expensive Formula One cars. So to expect any change before, I would say, a few years from now, it would be delusional. So I think there's only so far that Max Verstappen saying he's going to leave will actually make change. There can be tweaks and maybe we can get to a point where we actually, as a collective, like the cars and the battery, there's less reliance on that. There's less, you know, discrepancies in power and we kind of lean more towards the internal combustion engine again. I'm sure there are ways in which to make that that impact smaller, the battery side of things.

But I'm also quite, you know, I'm not a technical guy, but I'm quite reluctant to think that there is a miracle cure to this when you hear about how the cars are made. Like what they're actually made up of. That they're going to, there will have to be big changes within that to maybe get to where the formula that Max loves is. I don't think it's his way of bargaining because I think knowing Max Verstappen, he is just a straight talking person and he's super honest and he just says what he thinks. And that's why a lot of people either love him or don't like him because of the way he just says what he thinks. And I don't think a lot of the time what he is saying and his kind of honest perception of life is for any person. politics. If there's one thing Max doesn't do, it's the politics in the sport. He just wants to drive cars, not even just Formula One cars. He just wants to drive in motorsport and have a lot of

fun. And that's what he lives and breathe. That's why he's on the simulator, the second, the race finishes, or he's gone off to the Nureberg ring now and done some more driving. And he's doing like fun media days with Red Bull doing more driving and things like that. So I really don't think, I think you're looking too much into it, if you think it's some kind of of like political power play from max because i genuinely don't think that's his kind of style or his character he's just honest and he doesn't like the sport and he's that's what he's saying i don't like it and he's been like that from day one really saying he doesn't like it and now he doesn't want to do it anymore because he doesn't enjoy it he's been on about this since day

minus one before we even had these cars roll out in 2023 he was saying These cars look very different and pretty bad. And alas, Max was right. Question from P1, Patreon member TVR driver role. Would Max be thinking about retirement if the Red Bull car was competitive? Now, this is obviously from face value, you'd look at this and go, oh, well, this is the year that he's not got a good car and he's throwing his toys out the pram and he doesn't want to be in Formula One anymore.

but as you just said that, Max Verstappen has been a day one hater of these regulations. And I've got the quote here. This was in July 20203, when of course, midway through 2023, he was winning everything and he was having a great time and was very competitive at the top of his game,

winning all the races. And he said, I've been talking about it with the team as well, and I've seen the data already in the simulator. It looks pretty terrible. I don't know what it is. like four or 500 meters before the end of the straight you have to down shift because it's faster. I think that's not the way to go.

Now, I remember hearing that quote thinking there's no way when we get to 2026. They're going to be downshifting on a straight to go because it's faster. And here we are. It's happening. So if they're back to kind of the original question, if they're not listening to him when he made these points in 2023, are they going to listen to him now? Probably not. and it's also too far gone.

So there's a level of, yes, of course, he doesn't want to be racing an Alpine and spending the whole race stuck behind Gasly. But we've seen other drivers up and down the grid quite vocal. You know, Charlerclair is saying he absolutely despises qualifying and it's an effing joke, and he's more competitive than ever. So it's not like we're seeing only the drivers at the top

are loving it and all the other drivers are hating it. I think he would genuinely be this vocal anyway, even if he was winning. And of course, it doesn't help the fact that the Red Bull car is not very good and is probably making the enjoyment even less, but I do think he would be the same, even if Red Bull were in that mix fighting for wins with Ferrari and Mercedes and McLaren.

I'm in complete agreement. I think that Max has shown evidence that he hated these, even the thought of the regs before they even came. I also can't believe that the, that we're after three years of knowing that this kind of downshifting on the stray into 130, wherever it might be, that was predicted to happen in the simulators and we're still here in 2026 and that is the case. That then leads me back to what I was previously saying about,

I don't think there is a miracle solution here where the regulations we wake up one day we go to Miami and oh my God they've done it they've removed the battery and Audi is really upset you know that it's Formula One's gone so far down the path

of pleasing manufacturers that we've lost a bit of the soul of the sport especially I mean I was going to say especially Saturday also Sunday I would say to some regard especially what we saw at Japan in the previous race weekend there is a human element to this for Max Hamilton was an interesting one in China

saying absolutely loving loving racing wheel to wheel with Shal brilliant to watch I think if Max was having that fighting for podiums fighting for wins there would be a better feeling from Max just overall but that being said I think he would be saying

exactly the same things but just with a slight more smile on his face because he's fighting for podiums and wins I think that's just you know They're all insanely competitive to a level which none of us will ever understand as elite sportsmen. So I don't think his opinion would change, but he'd be slightly happier,

I think, going about his day-to-day job. And then perhaps maybe not considering retirement as soon as the end of this year, I would say. It's interesting, though, that Lauren Mecky's has now come out and kind of, not dismissed it, but kind of his quotes where, I'm sure I'll be much happier when we give him a competitive car,

which, you know, kind of goes, against what we've just been saying there where I think he's just very unhappy with the rules and and everything that's going on because what people probably can't understand and will find it insane because if you're a Formula One elitist and of course it is the most popular sport where all the money is and all the fame and all the fortune. Max does not care about that at all. And if he can get more satisfaction driving at the Nureberg ring in a GT car, he doesn't care that it's not the pinnacle of motorsport. Of course, he'd love to be in Formula One,

but I genuinely think that he will, you know, have a much more fun doing that. And we see it, you know, he takes his sim racing and stuff just as serious as Formula One to the point where, you know, we were having this whole debate of should he be doing it two o'clock in the morning when he's got a Formula One. one race the next morning. That's who he is.

And I do think that a lot of it is just because he wants to enjoy driving, because that's the buzz that he gets. Max is the old school Formula One fan as a driver, essentially. So it's not really a surprise that he is the most. He's the one that's slandering Vegas and stuff when it's on the calendar and all these sanitized circuits and things. he's always been very vocal about that. He was vocal about Vegas and all of a sudden he liked Vegas.

And I don't know where the switch shut up was there. I think it was maybe when he won. But that, I don't know, is the best example. Because I do recall him slandering them and then being like, oh, Vegas, baby or something. I was like, wait. Is it Viva Las Vegas? I don't necessarily think that means he likes it.

No. Just a team radio. It's a positive thing. Anyway, we're digressing. Let's now go to a question from P1, Patreon. Gehran mega, does F1 need to change to keep Max in the sport? Well, we don't have a regulation change until 2031, I believe. Although I, for some reason, I just randomly hear broadcasters say it's in three years' time.

I don't know what I've missed, but I felt like there's no changes happening until 2013. That's my understanding of it anyways, Tommy goes ferociously writing on his keyboard. but I think that well one thing needs to change the rebel becomes competitive and Max can enjoy his day to day a little bit better and also Max maybe just needs to

I don't know it's so tough because the first two races there was good racing in it I did enjoy the side by side action and stuff like that and if he's involved in that for the lead for the podiums

maybe but I think as you mentioned he's an old school racer he fundamentally hates how the cars are built. So I don't think he's going to change in that opinion. So to answer your question, I think yes, not to the extreme of which we need to rip out the engines and put a V10 and sustainable fuels in,

but I think if we can get away from how reliant they are on the batteries right now, then maybe Max will see it out for a few more years. I think there's the side to it I kind of, feel is that it's not even just a Max Verstappen thing here. I think it's quite clear that the drivers aren't being listened to and they're very unhappy and that's something that a lot of the drivers have been vocal about and saying, oh, it doesn't matter what we say because they're not changing things.

And Formula One need to do need to listen to the drivers. It's this balancing act, isn't it, about Formula One in general anyway, about money. And not even just drivers and entities. because we've had the debate of if the drivers don't like the rate like oh we can't fly into corners and got infinite grip and actually they've got a say like they're struggling for grip and downforce and things we've kind of been on this idea of well actually i don't care that they're not rocket ships around the corners as long as we have exciting racing we kind of want to see more of that

So it's a balancing act that they need to take what Max is saying seriously. They can't completely dismiss it and it'd be a massive loss to lose, you know, a four-time champion. Other drivers are very vocal and I don't think would do the same in walking away. I think Max could do that because he's achieved everything he wants to and genuinely would just happily spend time with his family and go do no, ring races and whatever he likes. So he's kind of in that very powerful position. So they do need to take what he's got seriously. But they also need to be careful not to just completely, you know, go 180 just to impress one driver.

They need to listen to collectively what they say and make smart choices, I think. Yes. And I don't know whether these regulations have been a smart choice so far. It feels very money-oriented, in my opinion, what we've seen so far in 2026. Because who, genuinely, who sat there, looked at these rules and went, sign it off. This looks like fantastic racing to me. I like the fact we can downship on the streets. True.

Yes, the Mercedes-Team bus where they are dominating. Question from P1, Patreon member, Ricky's new inters. Will Max stay in the Red Bull family for the potential to come back once F-1 return? to its former glory. Maybe, but then I think when he retires, I think he will just go. Could you see him doing a Michael Schumerican coming back when he's older? I don't, could you?

I don't know. I think he would. If he retired too early, I think he'd miss it too much. Maybe. It depends, because I guess he'd still be quite young when the regulations did change in 2031, and if it was worth it. I could see him staying in that Red Bull family,

anyway because it opens up the options for him to do different things like, I don't know, like Dakar and endurance racing and loads of like cool, fun things because, you know, he's been doing all sorts with Red Bull. Recently he drove a super GT car around, was it Suzuki? I don't know which track. Well, I think it was Suzuki, but drove a super GT car. And he gets to do all these cool things and has fun driving. So I could see him staying with Red Bull.

Kind of on this question. Excuse me. I know you're going to start breaking down eventually. It's finally happened. On this question, I do feel like the Mercedes thing is off the table now. I really can't see it happening at all. And I think particularly, and maybe this is kind of getting a bit political, but how much Toto and Mercedes are very pro-regulations,

I don't think Max would suit that kind of narrative. And I couldn't see Max going there now, personally. I think it would be too jarring, and I feel like that isn't going to happen now. I could just see him either staying with Red Bull or just, yeah, retiring and keeping the Red Bull ties and just sort of doing some other fun racing with Red Bull that goes over his car like he has, in GT racing and things. Yeah, I mean, he loves Red Bull, doesn't he? He is part of who he has become as a Formula One driver,

the amount of time he spent with him since he was, well, I mean, he joined F1 and when he was 17, wasn't he? So I think that he doesn't need to stay in a particular family, doesn't need to keep ties with Red Bull if he left at the end of this year and wanted back in 2029 when they've ripped the regulations up and they've announced V10 sustainable fuels, he can go wherever he wants. Even with two or three year hiatus,

he could go almost anywhere that he wants. And that's just the Max Verstappen effect, in my opinion. So... It is, but I think it's the fact that the Red Bull have supported his, you know, Sim racing team and him doing GT racing. They'd all support his extra ventures, let's be real. Like that I think,

maybe not Ferrari, but most... That's what I mean. Yeah, exactly. But I think most teams would bend over backwards to have Max in their team. But yeah, I think that it's a good point about the Mercedes thing. The pro-regulation point is, I mean, if the regs change, then it won't really matter all too much, will it, as to whether or not Max hates them. But, yeah, I think he will probably see out his career at Red Bull.

I'd love to see him go to another team. I really would. think it would be such an interesting story to see him go to someone else's backyard to see just how how good he would be at a Ferrari or a Mercedes. But we'll have to wait and see. That is it. Tommy, you looked like you were searching for something.

I was trying to find the recent quotes from Toto Wolfe about Formula One. He said it's pure and very exciting races. So, you know, it doesn't match what Max is saying, which is why. I just feel like that whole thing isn't going to work now. And it's an insane thing to say. And some people go, are absolute rubbish and I can understand. But I do genuinely think that if you, like Max would still be unhappy with the regulations,

even if you gave him a Mercedes tomorrow. Obviously, he'd probably enjoy it a lot more because he's fighting at the front. Of course he would. But he doesn't enjoy, you know, the battery management side of Formula One and the whole regulation set. And that is the one thing that is the best part of being a Formula One driver is the driving. So if you don't like that, you've not really got anything. So I can understand why he does want to just spend time with family.

He's not got anything, is he? Poor old Max Verstappen. No, he's absolutely nothing. He doesn't like the driving. Oh, poor guy. Honestly, my heart bleeds for him. Now, it's, yeah, if you're there for one thing and, that one thing isn't delivering for you, then why would you stay?

It's like any job that you, if you, if you're not enjoying your, your job and the one thing you like about your job, you're not going to. I can remember something like that, about seven years ago. Right. Right. Thank you everybody. Thank you for tuning in. We really appreciate you.

And Tommy, final thoughts, please. Final thoughts? I hope there's a compromise. I think obviously I'm going to say this. but Formula One would be a lot worse off without, you know, Max just happened in it. He's an exciting driver, but even at the same time, you know, we're not getting to see the good side of Max in these regulations anyway. The reason I supported him in the first place was because he could make these daring moves and going around the outside of Blanchmont. But when, you know, you can't do that because it's not the right way to charge the battery.

It's not what we're seeing the best out of him. So at the end of the day, if he wants to go, then so be it. But I'll be gutted. I was going to say, the so be it was not heartfelt in the slightest. You want him to stay more than anything. Yeah, of course I do. Just be real with it. Max, don't leave, please.

We need you in Formula One. And yeah, that is it. Let's know your thoughts. Will he leave? Will he stay? And will you leave or stay? Will you continue watching F1 as well? It's probably a good thing.

I hope people continue watching Formula One. but I can also, I've been seeing viewing figures and things circulating about things dropping. And yeah, so, Formula One, I have to do something, not just for Max Rastappen, but for all of us. Yeah, because it's not just Max saying it, is it? I mean, this will go, we are going to do a deep, a deep dive into the regulations and thoughts more about it, which we can, I'm sure, rant for another four hours about it. So I will zip it and save it for the next podcast. Yeah, shut it, Tommy. Right, that is it.

Thank you, everybody. See you soon. Lots of love. Bye. Goodbye. is a Stack production and part of the ACAST created network.