F1 driver Max Verstappen, worth $380M, is thinking about shocking retirement at 28.

Max Verstappen Considers Retirement from F1

Max Verstappen, the renowned F1 driver for Red Bull, hinted at the possibility of retiring at the end of 2026, which is two years before his lucrative contract is set to expire. Following a lackluster eighth-place finish in Japan, he expressed that he is “not enjoying the sport” as much as he used to.

At 28 years old and a four-time world champion, Verstappen has been voicing his concerns about the direction Formula 1 is taking. His once-passionate enthusiasm for racing appears to be diminishing.

After the race, when asked if this meant he was considering retiring soon, he acknowledged, “That’s what I’m saying. I’m thinking about everything within this paddock.” His introspection extended to whether the grind of racing was truly worth it compared to spending quality time at home with family and friends.

Verstappen’s recently voiced dissatisfaction includes criticisms of F1’s new regulations, which he likened to “Mario Kart,” calling them “anti-racing.” He reiterated that his contemplation of retirement isn’t influenced by his performance this season.

“It’s easy to accept being seventh or eighth where I am,” he reflected, acknowledging that being in such positions while not enjoying racing is “not natural for a racing driver.” He emphasized that changes in the sport should promote the experience of driving, stating, “At some point, yeah, that’s not what I want to do.”

Should he choose to step away, Verstappen would leave behind a legacy as one of the most accomplished racers in the history of the sport. With 71 race wins before hitting 29, he ranks behind only Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher for all-time victories.

Financially, Verstappen’s retirement would also see him part ways with considerable wealth. Since joining Red Bull in 2019, he extended his contract in 2022 to a striking $275 million, making it one of the wealthiest deals in F1.

His base salary is reported to be around $65 million, with the potential for additional earnings pushing his annual income to roughly $116 million. Despite the prospect of leaving a substantial sum behind, Verstappen insists that his motivation isn’t primarily financial.

“I want to come here to have fun, have a great time and enjoy myself. That’s not really the case at the moment,” he explained. While he values working with his team, referring to them as a second family, he admitted that the experience of driving isn’t fulfilling right now. “It’s very difficult,” he said, striving to inject fun into his racing.