2026-05-01 10:20:51

Max Verstappen is “taking (his) time” over deciding his F1 future.

The four-time world champion suggested after the Japanese Grand Prix in March that he was thinking about walking away from the sport due to his dissatisfaction over the new regulations and says there is “nothing new” to comment on the matter as the season resumes in Miami this weekend after a five-week hiatus.

Verstappen said: “I still have time and I’m taking my time.”

Asked if an upturn performance from Red Bull would change his mind, the Dutch racer said: “We are a little bit further behind at the moment than what we had last year.

“The rest, I mean, also for myself, I don’t know at the moment. What I said in Japan is still the same, but I also still have a lot of time.

“I just want to be here. The team has worked really hard to bring updates to the car, so we first have to wait and see what they will do, because I have no idea, of course, what other teams came with as well.

“I just hope that we can escape a little bit that midfield battle, and we can be actually a bit further up front.”

Verstappen has failed to finish in the top five of the opening three races this year but suggested that his frustration stems from the regulation changes rather than Red Bull’s lack of competitiveness.

He said: “I just hope for next year we can make really big changes.

“The positive thing about it is we had some nice meetings with Formula 1 and the FIA. That’s probably like a starting point hopefully for the future.

“Even in a few years’ time, when maybe I’m not here anymore, I really hope that for the future drivers as well, there’s more input to come from the drivers to the organisers in general because I do think that most of the drivers here, we have a good understanding and a good feel of what is needed to make Formula 1 a good product, a fun product.

“I think that’s already a huge step forward in terms of the communication. Of course with the changes that are made, I think it’s more like a tickle because at the end of the day, F1 is a very complex and political sport. But I think everyone has tried their best to at least do something, but of course it won’t change the world.”

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