Max Verstappen told his retirement ‘outburst’ shows he’s lost the ‘values’ of an F1 driver

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Max Verstappen suggesting that he could retire from F1 at the end of 2026 shows the Red Bull racer has lost the “values” of a driver who feels invincible and is “suffering”.

Francesco Cigarini believes Verstappen was not speaking out on a “whim” in Japan when the Dutchman raised doubts over his future in Formula 1 beyond 2026. Instead, the four-time F1 champion showed as clear as day how much the 2026 engine regulations have eaten at him.

Verstappen loathes the increased role that the battery now plays in the power unit, after F1 moved from a 20/80 split in favour of the internal combustion engine (ICE) to almost 50/50. Red Bull have also struggled with the latest chassis and aero regulations that F1 introduced.

Failing to reach a Q3 session at Suzuka for the first time since 2015 saw Verstappen call the Red Bull RB22 “undriveable” in Japan. The RB22 has chronic balance problems, which even saw Verstappen finish the Japanese GP in P8 and Isack Hadjar, who started P8, finished P12.

Isack Hadjar blames Red Bull’s chassis for their poor start to 2026 – Are you surprised that their engine has not been the biggest issue?

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Max Verstappen threatening to retire from F1 proves he no longer feels invincible

Verstappen suggested he needs to “figure out” his future in F1 after qualifying in Japan, too, before doubling down on his threat to retire after the race. The 28-year-old claimed he must decide “is it worth it?” to stay in Formula 1 to race using engine regulations that he detests.

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Former Ferrari engineer Cigarini believes Verstappen threatening to retire was a clear sign of his frustrations with F1’s 2026 regulations, but also of his inability to battle at the front. Red Bull have yet to register a stronger result this year than Verstappen’s P6 in the Australian GP.

Cigarini told FormulaPassion: “I think his outburst isn’t the result of a whim, but rather the loss of those values ​​that shape a driver and make him feel capable of overcoming his own limits or those of the car.

“It’s a challenging issue, and it gives you the strength to get out on track and give your all. For now, everything is too much left to software and the interaction between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor.

“With evolution, things will get closer to normal. But for now, it’s just suffering. Those who win or are competitive enjoy the moment, regardless of the regulations. Those who don’t, suffer and get depressed.”

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Hadjar retired with an engine issue in Australia as Verstappen recovered from crashing in Q1 to climb from P20 on the grid to finish P6. Red Bull have since seen Hadjar finish P8 in China and P12 in Japan, while Verstappen retired in China with a coolant fault and was P8 in Japan.

Red Bull know they must improve the RB22 to keep Verstappen happy, and potentially in F1 next year. Verstappen can break out of his Red Bull contract through 2028 at the end of this year if he is outside the top two in the F1 drivers’ standings at the summer break in August.

Verstappen will have from August to October to use his release clause, which is very likely to be available to him. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly out-qualified and out-finished Red Bull in China and Japan, which has helped to put Verstappen ninth in the standings on 12 points to Gasly’s 15.