Max Verstappen could 'lose his motivation' in F1, father warns
· Yahoo Sports
Max Verstappen's father fears that the four-time world champion could lose interest in Formula One after a modest start into the 2026 season in the wake of sweeping rule changes in the sport.
"Driving these cars doesn't challenge him. To be honest, I fear that Max loses his motivation," Jos Verstappen told Dutch paper De Telegraaf ahead of Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.
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Max Verstappen finished sixth at the season opener in Australia and had to retire his Red Bull at the race in China two weeks ago. In Suzuka, he was a modest 11th in qualifying on Saturday.
He has complained on several occasions about how the car behaves under the new rules, comparing it to video game Mario Kart. It especially hurts him not being able to drive full throttle because the battery needs to recharge.
“I am not even frustrated anymore. I am beyond that," he said on Saturday.
Verstappen still hopes that the rules will be amended and father Jos said: "You hear that it is a question of getting used to it but I am convinced that Max won't have fun this way.
"In the past he thought that driving in Formula was the greatest thing. But now I am rather pessimistic. I would like to say it isn't the case but I see a problem in this regarding the future," former F1 driver Jos Verstappen said.
Max Verstappen has a Red Bull contract until 2028 but reportedly has a release clause at the end of this season.
He recently spoke highly of other motorsport events, last weekend competed in a sports car event on the Nürburgring, and plans to return to the German venue for the 24-hour race in May.