Verstappen: I was closer to quitting F1 than joining another team

Max Verstappen has revealed he seriously considered walking away from Formula 1 altogether before ultimately signing a new Red Bull deal through 2030. The four-time world champion admitted that, despite talks with McLaren, he came closer to quitting the sport than to joining another team.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's comments offer a rare insight into the mindset of a driver who feels he has nothing left to prove. With Red Bull facing its toughest season in years, his decision to commit long-term signals loyalty over ambition — and raises questions about how much longer he'll stay motivated.

The details:

• Verstappen told Bild that every conversation with another team must be taken seriously, but his own thoughts were dominated by retirement.
• "You either quit or you don't, so it's a 50/50 decision," he said. "I seriously considered calling it quits. But at the end of the day, I just love racing."
• The Dutchman, currently sixth in the standings and 147 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli, insisted the decision was made quickly because both he and Red Bull wanted the same thing.
• "I'm a four-time world champion, and after my first title, I'd already achieved everything I ever wanted. I don't race for the history books, but for myself, the team, and our fans," he added.
• He also shrugged off external criticism: "The only thing that matters is how my family, my management, the team, and I feel about it."

What's next:

Verstappen is now tied to Red Bull until 2030, but he doesn't expect to follow Fernando Alonso's example and race into his mid-40s. "I'll keep racing as long as I enjoy it," he said, leaving the door open to an earlier exit if that passion fades.