Four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen said he is considering his future in the sport after changes to the car have made him not enjoy the whole formula.
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The 28-year-old Red Bull driver told BBC Sport after an eighth-place finish in the Japanese Grand Prix that he can adapt to the updated car regulations that emphasize the electrical power. He can make a lot of money, but he won't have the same passion while dealing with this "anti-driving."
BBC Sport asked if this meant that he would walk away from F1 at the end of the season, and Verstappen provided his expanded thoughts on the matter.
"That's what I'm saying. I'm thinking about everything inside this paddock," Verstappen said in response to the outlet. "Privately I'm very happy.
"You also wait for 24 races. This time it's 22. But normally 24. And then you just think about is it worth it? Or do I enjoy being more at home with my family? Seeing my friends more when you're not enjoying your sport?"
Verstappen is no stranger to success. He has won 71 Grands Prix during his career, including a career-high 19 in 2023. He has won four drivers' championships, and he ended two points shy of the title last season.
This season, however, he has not yet celebrated a win. He has finished no better than sixth in any Grand Prix this season, and he failed to finish the Chinese Grand Prix. He is currently ninth in the standings and 60 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli.
Verstappen told BBC Sport that he is not contemplating retirement due to his performance this season. He said that he hasn't always won in F1. He can accept being outside the top five in the standings, but he indicated that it's the unnatural feeling of the racing that is getting to him.
According to The Athletic, Red Bull has Verstappen under contract through the 2028 season. So this would seemingly limit any potential for a retirement. Yet, the outlet also reports that he may have a clause in his contract that allows him to walk away at the end of the season if he isn't top two in points by a certain part of the season.
If Verstappen used this clause, he would not necessarily step away from racing entirely. He indicated that he would find other "fun" projects, such as his upcoming foray into the Nurburgring 24 Hours.
"I have a lot of other projects anyway that I have a lot of passion about," Verstappen told BBC Sport. "The GT3 racing. Not only racing it myself but also the team. It's really nice and fun to build that. And I really want to build that out further in the coming years.
"It's not like if I would stop here that I'm not going to do anything. I'm always going to have fun. And also I will have fun in a lot of other things in my life.
"But it's a bit sad to be honest that we're even talking about this. It is what it is. You don't need to feel sorry for me. I'll be fine."
