Max Verstappen has frequently spoken about the prospect of calling it quits in Formula 1 at the end of his current contract, despite the fact that he will just be 31 years old at that point which runs through the end of 2028.
Even though retiring from a dominant position in Formula 1 at the age of 31 is seen as premature retirement. The Dutchman wants to rack up 300 grand prix starts and retire by the end of 2028. Considering the fact that Lewis Hamilton who is of 38 years insists on to continue competing in F1.
George Russell perceives Max Verstappen’s hints of a potential departure upon the expiration of his current contract saying “I think he’s whinging because he wants more money,” according to him. “He’s the highest paid on this grid, and rightly so for what he’s achieving, but even so I think it’s all a big tactic of his, that threat of retirement“.
George Russell has taken a cheeky jab at Max Verstappen’s complaints over the 2024 race calendar 👀
— Motorsport.com (@Motorsport) July 7, 2023
Russell did however comment further, saying he hopes Verstappen doesn’t retire as soon as he says because ” I want to fight against the best drivers in the world”. pic.twitter.com/HxFK9T7yDm
Russell went ahead and said, “I hope he doesn’t, I hope he stays for as long as I stay because I want to fight against the best drivers in the world. I’m head-to-head with Lewis [Hamilton at Mercedes] at the moment and I want to be doing that with Max and Charles [Leclerc] etc. and I think we’re in a really great place at the moment as a sport.”
The 2024 F1 calendar exclusively featured 24 events, and it is very likely that this number may rise in the years to come. Several F1 drivers are concerned about this upcoming change, particularly how it would affect the staff. Verstappen agrees with this opinion and says that the 2024 schedule of races is “too many for me.”
But he recognizes that the clustering of events is preferable to the arrangement in 2023. And that they have to adapt in light of the logical planning, which should be favorable to all participants.
Is Max Verstappen actually retiring?
As per reports, Max Verstappen has hinted on retiring as soon as his contract expires saying that might be the right time to leave the sport, despite realizing his childhood dream of winning the championship and signing a new agreement that puts him on par with Lewis Hamilton.
The Red Bull driver declared that he would be open to the idea of competing in other racing series if ideal circumstances arose, but he added that he would prefer not to drive for any other team at the time.
🗣️ | Max says more changes are needed for him to stay in F1 beyond 2028
— RBR Daily (@RBR_Daily) July 6, 2023
“But more things will have to come together for me to make my mind up over whether I stay longer (than 2028) or not. But I think that these things are definitely not helping for sure.” 😬 pic.twitter.com/81yjNbMzmO
Verstappen has ruled out competing in IndyCar and going for the “triple crown,” but he showed interest in endurance racing, specifically in races like Le Mans, Spa-Francorchamps, Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring, and the Bathurst, Australia, in which he could drive a GT3 vehicle.
These races appeal to him owing to the lower stakes and excitement they offer. However, he clarified that such a transition would not happen in the immediate future but might be a possibility after the upcoming seasons. However, the Dutchman’s retirement will be a massive loss for the viewership of Formula 1 considering the name he has made for himself in the sport over the years.