Nelson Piquet Jr makes Max Verstappen F1 retirement claim as clear warning sent to the FIA

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Nelson Piquet Jr has sent a clear warning to the FIA while speaking about Max Verstappen’s potential retirement from Formula 1.

Verstappen has dominated the headlines so far in the 2026 season, as his future in the sport remains up in the air.

The 28-year-old, who has already won four world championships, has been critical of F1’s brand new regulations.

So far this season, Verstappen has labelled the regulations as ‘anti-driving’ and also compared the new era to ‘Mario Kart’.

To make matters worse, it was claimed after last month’s Japanese Grand Prix that Verstappen could walk away from F1 at the end of the year.

Nelson Piquet Jr says ‘there is a chance’ Max Verstappen will walk away from F1

Speaking recently to Spanish news outlet SoyMotor, Piquet Jr was asked about the possibility of Verstappen retiring from F1.

The former Renault driver, who is also the brother of Verstappen’s partner, Kelly Piquet, warned the FIA that if nothing changes, there is a real chance that the Dutchman will want to do something else.

Piquet Jr said: “Max is a very authentic person, and he does what he wants. He’s not there because of the money.

“He is there because of the challenge, because of the sport, because of the love for what he has always done. If he doesn’t feel that anymore, maybe he’ll do something else.

“He’s the type who knows exactly what he wants, and he does what he feels he has to do.

“If Formula 1 doesn’t offer him that, or doesn’t make him happy, then he’s someone who will say: okay, then I’m going to do something that makes me happy, whether it’s karting, rallying, or whatever.”

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The Brazilian continued: “I know many drivers who are in Formula 1 for the money, because they have to pay the bills, and it is not his case, he does not chase the money, he pursues the challenge, the passion for sport…

“If things do not change, there is a possibility that he will say ‘I want to do something else’ and when he likes things again, he will come back.

“Knowing Max, I can say that if he doesn’t feel a passion for the sport, he doesn’t feel the challenge; there is a good chance that he will do something else.”

READ MORE: Max Verstappen reveals what Gianpiero Lambiase asked him after receiving McLaren offer

Max Verstappen ‘very keen’ to suggest F1 changes

Amid the uncertainty over his future in the sport, Verstappen was recently involved in a meeting alongside F1 boss Stefano Domenicali.

Speaking to Autosport, Domenicali stated that Verstappen was ‘very keen’ to put forward suggestions.

He said: “I think that Max, we have spoken many many times since the beginning. I understand his comment, he understands the bigger picture.

“Even the meeting today, where he was very keen to give suggestions, so I don’t want to fall into the trap of trying to create antagonism, that’s not me. It’s not the way we want to see that.”