Max Verstappen to have dinner with F1 boss Stefano Domenicali as he ponders retirement

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Stefano Domenicali has scheduled a meeting with Max Verstappen as one of F1’s highest-profile drivers considers walking away from the sport, Christijan Albers has learned.

Verstappen could retire at the end of 2026, largely because he is no longer enjoying racing after the F1 rule changes. After an eighth-place finish at the Japanese Grand Prix, he indicated in the media pen that he was weighing up his options.

Off the record, his camp are passing a similar message to the Dutch media. The lengthy break between Japan and Miami will clearly be a critical period.

Max Verstappen and Stefano Domenicali to meet amid F1 rules complaints

Speaking to Viaplay, via F1 Maximaal, former driver Christijan Albers revealed that Verstappen will have dinner with the sport’s CEO, Domenicali.

While he hasn’t made this threat explicitly, it seems Verstappen is inclined to quit F1 unless there are significant changes to the rules. Due to compete in the Nurburgring 24 Hours in May, he currently views sportscars as a purer form of racing.

If Max Verstappen retires from F1, who should Red Bull sign as his replacement?

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Verstappen has an infant daughter and, with four world championships under his belt already, he may no longer see the sacrifice of travelling to 24 global races (or 22 as it is this year) as worthwhile.

Domenicali will want to avoid any accusations of pandering to Verstappen, but it would be an enormous blow to the sport if he left in his prime.

“I know that a dinner is scheduled between him and Stefano Domenicali,” said Albers. “The question is what will come of it. One year that doesn’t go well doesn’t mean there won’t be change in 2027.”

‘I don’t believe he will quit’ – Christijan Albers on Max Verstappen future

Albers remains confident that Verstappen will stay in F1. Several other drivers have voiced complaints about the new rules, which should lead to change.

The teams will take the opportunity to review the regulations in the gap before Miami. The qualifying recharge limit was already tweaked for the Japanese GP and bigger steps could follow.

F1 initially planned to become 50% electric this year, and while the ICE still accounts for the majority of the car’s output, the beefed-up batteries have brought a multitude of problems.

Some of the racing has been spectacular, particularly in comparison to 2025, but this may be overshadowed by the impact on qualifying and, more importantly, the safety risks.

“I don’t believe he will quit,” said Albers. “The FIA ​​knows it too. It’s not just Max who has a say, because there are others who say this.

“They just need to get the management properly under control with those batteries. Maybe they should go back to last year, with an 80/20 split or otherwise 70/30. That battery is simply too big at 350kW.

“That is 470hp compared to the 160hp they had last year. That is a really big difference. The engine also simply delivers much less power. If they get that under control, it’s okay.”