F1 insiders raise suspicions about Red Bull after hearing Max Verstappen’s latest quit threat

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Max Verstappen’s latest threat to retire from Formula 1 has been met with some scepticism inside the Formula 1 paddock.

Speaking after qualifying at the Canadian Grand Prix, Verstappen said he ‘mentally’ couldn’t cope with another year in F1 if the rules remained the same for 2027.

At the start of the weekend, Verstappen said he planned to stay in the sport, but he appeared to go back on that after a difficult Saturday. The four-time world champion, who has bemoaned multiple car problems on the radio this weekend, finished seventh in the Sprint and qualified sixth for the Grand Prix.

Does Max Verstappen need to make up his mind?

He has once again threatened to quit F1 if the rules aren't changed for 2027

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Red Bull accused of instigating Max Verstappen quit threat to put ‘pressure on the FIA’

According to Motorsport Italia, some paddock ‘insiders’ expressed ‘one doubt’ about Verstappen’s comments on Saturday evening.

There’s a theory that Red Bull ‘instigated’ his remarks in order to ‘increase pressure on the FIA’. This comes amid a dispute over the 2027 rules.

The sport’s governing body announced after Miami that the hybrid engines would be modified next year, making the battery less powerful and increasing the emphasis on the ICE. Verstappen has made clear that, in his eyes, this is the right direction for F1.

While the battery currently accounts for around 45% of the car’s overall power output, the idea is to reduce that to 40% for next year – a small change but one that would have a measurable impact.

However, Ferrari and Audi oppose the rule change as it stands, which means it doesn’t have the required backing among the engine manufacturers. The teams fear that they won’t get a full return on their investment when upgrading their power units.

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If the outcome of this regulatory battle decides Verstappen’s future, then it clearly takes on a far larger significance. With Red Bull in favour of the proposal, perhaps they have instructed their star driver to exert pressure.

That was the suspicion in some quarters, and it’s worth stressing that such games are commonplace in F1, an intensely political sport.

However, those close to Verstappen have consistently ‘ruled out’ any ulterior move, insisting that he’s taking a principled stand. The 28-year-old, who came within two points of winning the title last season, has previously said his criticism isn’t linked to Red Bull’s underwhelming results.