Fernando Alonso has already shown that Max Verstappen will never win again if he takes F1 sabbatical

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Max Verstappen is considering taking a sabbatical from Formula 1 after expressing a clear dislike for the 2026 regulations. But as history has shown, returning to the sport could be damaging.

The four-time champion has not shied away from expressing his discontent over the 2026 rules and how to drive the new cars. Liberty Media have not been impressed with Verstappen’s comments, but he is unlikely to change his mind, even if he was winning races.

The Red Bull driver has scored just 12 points thus far, and his difficult start to the new era has revamped speculation about his future. Verstappen is calling for changes from the FIA, so at the very least, he is still showing he is passionate about F1.

However, Verstappen is seriously considering his future in the sport, and with him free to leave Red Bull through an exit clause in his contract in 2026, many believe that he will take a sabbatical. But the Dutchman only has to look back a few years to see that it may not be a good idea.

World champions retiring from F1 and returning after a couple of years is a rare occurrence. But the last three to do so did not enjoy all that much success and their careers slowly petered out – it should serve as a warning for Verstappen.

Kimi Raikkonen, Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso prove why Max Verstappen won’t succeed after F1 sabbatical

Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen and Michael Schumacher are the last three world champions to leave F1 and later return. All three’s comebacks have one thing in common: it did not lead to any further success.

The latest, Alonso, walked away from the sport in 2018 after a dismal four-year stint at McLaren. Returning with Alpine in 2021, he joined Aston Martin in 2023 and is in his fourth season with the team in 2026.

Since returning to F1, the Spaniard has not won a race, with his 2023 season, which saw eight podium finishes, being the only real time he has come close to fighting consistently at the front. Results have been hard to come by, and the same can be said for the other two.

Which F1 driver is the ultimate ‘what might have been?’

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So much was expected of Schumacher’s return to F1 with Mercedes in 2010 after three years away, but it only garnered one podium finish in 2012 before he retired at the end of the year. The Mercedes did not suit Schumacher’s driving style, and his comeback ended on a whimper.

In 2009, Raikkonen was ‘very happy’ to leave Ferrari and head over to rallying, but he would return to F1 in 2012 with Lotus. Admittedly, his two-year stint there was strong with two race wins, but after that, he would win just one more time in a five-year spell at Ferrari before retiring with Alfa Romeo.

Neither champion managed to achieve much glory upon their return to F1. It could be argued that their machinery let them down, but in this sport, there is no guarantee of success, and it should stand as a warning for Verstappen.

Of course, the Dutchman is immensely talented and could walk into any team he so wishes. But depending on how long he stays away from F1, if he leaves that is, and what changes with the regulations, he may never win again when he returns.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Where will Max Verstappen go in 2027?

There is huge speculation as to where Verstappen will end up in 2027. Many are pointed towards an F1 exit, with Verstappen having a keen interest in GT3 and sports car racing.

Staying at Red Bull is, of course, entirely possible. However, with the team’s current situation, sitting sixth in the standings and with another key figure, race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, confirming his exit, Verstappen could look to explore his options.

Lambiase is ‘putting in a good word’ for Verstappen at McLaren, whom the Brit is joining in 2028. Should Verstappen leave Red Bull, the Woking outfit could be a likely destination.

David Croft thinks Aston Martin is a route for Verstappen back to F1, given the connections to Adrian Newey, Honda, and soon-to-be team principal Jonathan Wheatley. If they can fix their disastrous problems in 2026, it does stand as an attractive option.