Max Verstappen sheds light on career-altering F1 decision

Max Verstappen has offered further insight into the future of his Formula 1 career with 'Verstappen Racing'.

The four-time F1 champion is currently placed sixth in the 2026 standings and has failed to record a single race win this year.

Verstappen is in pursuit of a fifth Championship, but with just four podiums and 109 points in 2026, the Red Bull driver has endured a difficult season both in the car, and with the car.

In 2022, the Dutchman set up a racing team in his name, entering it into various GT3 categories then driving himself as part of Verstappen Racing in the 24 Hours of Nurburgring in May.

In that event, Verstappen and his team-mates, Dani Juncadella, Jules Gounon and Lucas Auer, led for the majority of the race, before a broken driveshaft scuppered their chances of victory with just four hours remaining.

While Verstappen Racing is still in development, the Dutchman has clarified that the goal is for his racing team to "compete for victories in the various racing classes" within the next 10 to 20 years, and made a sizeable call regarding its F1 future.

Verstappen also stated that the pace of his racing team's development will be dictated by his own individual decisions in the coming years, particularly what he chooses to do with the remainder of his Formula 1 career.

Verstappen offers insight into the future of Verstappen Racing, makes huge F1 call

Speaking to Formule 1 Magazine, Verstappen said: "[Verstappen Racing is] not going to compete just because it’s fun to race. We want to be at the front, win races, and, at the very least, consistently compete at the front... nothing more, nothing less.

"It's definitely the goal to expand the racing team further. Specifically toward endurance racing, not toward Formula 1 or anything like that," continued the Dutchman.

Verstappen, who has exhibited interest in races beyond solely the format of those which have made him a driving icon, denied outright that his racing squad will join the F1 grid.

“No... that’s way too demanding,” said the 28-year-old. “Then I’d still be on the road for 24 races a year or very busy with my own racing team.

The four-time F1 champion acknowledged that outsourcing responsibilities could be a viable method to get Verstappen Racing onto the F1 grid, then quickly waved off the idea.

"I think that if you’re a truly dedicated team owner who wants to get everything right, you have to stay on top of things and be there in person," he said. Of course, you also need people who can run the team’s day-to-day operations effectively, but I’m not the type of person who can lie on a beach for five races without knowing what’s going on with my team.

“That would cause me too much stress, and I don’t want that," he concluded. The 28-year-old has long suggested that the aftermath of his F1 career will see him become more involved in GT and endurance racing, and fans of the Dutchman can expect Verstappen Racing to follow suit.