Verstappen: “I’ve already spent more than half my career in F1”
The Dutchman will be contesting his 200th Formula 1 Grand Prix at home in Zandvoort. The three-time world champion was therefore asked whether this figure could be doubled by the end of his career. He was quick to explain that he didn't want to go that far, acknowledging that he had already completed more than half his career.
Max Verstappen continues to make history in Formula 1. This weekend at Zandvoort, he will compete in his 200th Grand Prix, becoming the youngest driver to reach this milestone. During the traditional media day, the question of his future was raised. When asked about the possibility of participating in another 200 races, he quickly responded in the negative, considering that he already has more than half of the way in F1.
Verstappen not ready to compete in 400 Grand Prix
« Max Verstappen briefly answered: “I’ve already passed the halfway point of my career, that’s for sure, but it has already been an incredible adventure. We don’t feel like we’ve done 200 races, but we do a lot of races in a year, so we add them up quite quickly. » The Dutchman does not seem to want to equal Fernando Alonso, who is expected to reach 400 Grand Prix by the end of the year. The Red Bull driver has often expressed his wish to leave F1 as soon as he no longer feels comfortable. He is considering 2028, the expiration date of his contract, as a potential year for his departure.
« Of course, 2028 is still very far away, but in my mind, for the moment, I am not thinking about a new contract for the moment. I just want to see how it goes, also see the new rules for us, if it’s fun or not. And then even in 2026, 2027, there is plenty of time to decide what will happen. »
The three-time world champion remains enigmatic, hinting at the possibility of not fulfilling his contract which runs until 2028, a trend that had already been mentioned at the beginning of the season when the Christian Horner affair shook the paddock and the Red Bull team to the point that rumors of the Dutchman moving to Mercedes from 2026 emerged. Furthermore, he has expressed his desire to take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans alongside Fernando Alonso, but this can only happen after his F1 career, as his schedule is too busy with the succession of races.
Focused on the present
« It’s difficult to combine [other series] with F1 at the moment, with so many races, he explained. « Once I stop F1, I would like to do something else and be more relaxed, so be more at home because when I participate in something, I want to be good and I want to win.
In the meantime, the former Toro Rosso driver is focusing on the present, in particular the resumption of Formula 1 this weekend in the Netherlands, a Grand Prix where he is still undefeated since his reinstatement on the calendar in the 2021 season. However, after four races without a victory, he acknowledges the increased difficulty of the season, especially with fiercer competition for the top positions.
« It also seems that there are many more teams involved that can actually win a race. So I’m not approaching this weekend by saying that we are going to win the race. I just want to have a good weekend, understand the car a little better, and learn from it.
« You just have to be realistic – if you can win the race, of course, you go for it, and if you’re out of luck, then it’s very simple, you don’t deserve to win, you move on and try to do better. On our side, I think we are still trying to improve, to find a better balance of the car. I hope we can start here to find a better balance. »
With a 78-point lead over his main pursuer, British driver Lando Norris, the winner of 61 F1 races is approaching the second half of the season serenely, explaining that he does not want to overdo it in order to avoid making any mistakes, as McLaren, Mercedes, and even possibly Ferrari seem ready to challenge Red Bull in the last ten races.
