Max Verstappen puts Red Bull on notice as F1 champion addresses ‘gets worse’ fears

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Max Verstappen never shies from threatening to quit Formula 1 and has just put Red Bull on notice once again amid tackling concerns the series is making itself ‘less fun’.

The 27-year-old has been a prominent part of the grid since Red Bull gave Verstappen his F1 debut with Toro Rosso back in 2015. He became the youngest Formula 1 driver of all time at that year’s Australian Grand Prix. Now, the Dutchman is on the cusp of lifting his fourth title.

Verstappen can win the drivers’ championship at the Las Vegas Grand Prix next time out. All the Red Bull racer needs to deny Lando Norris the crown is finish ahead of the McLaren star or if the Briton fails to score. Verstappen leads Norris by 62 points and must leave 60 ahead.

Max Verstappen feels Formula 1 is ‘less fun’ with the FIA’s ‘politically correct’ push

Yet while this term will likely yield a fourth championship success in succession, Verstappen continues to hint he could quit F1. The 62-time Grand Prix winner has a contract at Red Bull through 2028 and Verstappen earns £35.5m-a-year. But he will not stay unless he is happy.

Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko does not take Verstappen’s quit threats lightly, either. The Austrian is fully aware that he could decide just to walk away one day if Red Bull cannot produce a winning car. But F1 could also tempt Verstappen to consider calling quits.

READ MORE: The five worst moments of Max Verstappen’s career in Formula 1

The FIA clamping down on swearing in Formula 1 is just one topic weighing on Verstappen’s mind. He feels the pinnacle of motorsport is becoming ‘less fun’ with the FIA’s push to make Formula 1 ‘politically correct’. Verstappen is also hesitant to suggest it could get even worse.

Verstappen said, via quotes by Mundo Deportivo: “Politically correct F1 is becoming less fun. Whether it gets worse, I don’t know. But, for my part, I’d rather not say too much… I just live my life, I do what I have to do on race weekends but also outside of that.”

F1 is not the be-all and end-all for Max Verstappen, who wants to race at Le Mans

The FIA ordered Verstappen to do community service due to swearing in the pre-event press conference at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix despite him cussing to describe Red Bull’s car. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the FIA president, even wants drivers to swear less on the radios.

Formula 1 drivers continue to clash with Ben Sulayem over the issues, with the GPDA writing a letter to the FIA asking to be treated like ‘adults’. But should it continue, Red Bull may have an increasingly unhappy Verstappen on their hands and fear his threats to leave intensifying.

Being an F1 driver is not the be-all and end-all for Verstappen, who has previously voiced his desire to race in other series and compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Verstappen has even spoken with Fernando Alonso about racing at Le Mans with the Spaniard a two-time winner.