Max Verstappen hints at a shorter Formula 1 career, prioritizing life beyond racing

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has hinted that he may not follow the path of his fellow Formula 1 veterans by extending his racing career indefinitely.

While drivers like 41-year-old Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton (38) continue to compete fiercely in F1 with no signs of slowing down, Verstappen, at the age of 25, has already accumulated an impressive 171 Grand Prix starts since debuting in the sport at a mere 17 years old.

Despite his recent back-to-back World Championship victories and a promising run in the current season, having won six out of eight races so far in 2023, Verstappen revealed that sustained success alone will not keep him in Formula 1 for the long term.

In an interview with Forbes, he said, "Some people love racing because that's the only thing they do. I love racing, but I also want to do other things and not only Formula 1 at some stage."

While acknowledging that Formula 1 represents the pinnacle of motorsport achievement, Verstappen expressed his desire for a broader perspective, stating, "Now that I've won two titles, it's nice to win another one and another one, but basically it's the same thing. It's not something that will keep me here forever."

The Dutch driver has previously voiced his concerns about the expanding F1 calendar, which has grown from 19 races in 2015 to 22 races this year. Verstappen emphasized the challenge of being away from loved ones for prolonged periods, saying, "It's more about if I can motivate myself every single year to the fullest because with the race calendar being so long, you're away from family and friends a lot."

Verstappen pondered the significance of finding a balance between winning races and spending quality time with those closest to him. He reflected, "What is more important: is it winning races and being away from them, or is it actually being at home and spending time with those dearest and closest to you in a time in your life when you're fully fit, very active, and can still do anything you want?"

Acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding his future in the sport, Verstappen concluded, "Maybe if you look back at it and if you stayed in F1 until you're 40 or whatever, it might be that you were like, 'Maybe I stayed too long and didn't spend enough time with my close ones.' So, it's still something that's a big question mark for me and how long I will stay in the sport."

As the Formula 1 season progresses, the Austrian Grand Prix is the next event on the calendar, set to take place on Sunday, 2 July at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria.