Max Verstappen\u2019s warning about his Formula 1 future is no idle threat, and even his father fears he is falling out of love with the sport.<\/p>\n
Ever since his first laps in his new RB22 at the pre-season shakedown, Verstappen has made it clear that he doesn\u2019t like the new cars\u2019 battery-dependent racing.<\/p>\n
Max Verstappen future concerns grow amid motivation fears<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust<\/p>\n The four-time world champion has labelled it \u201canti-racing\u201d, \u201cFormula E on steroids\u201d and \u201cMario Kart\u201d.<\/p>\n The new engine formula means flat-out laps where drivers push every metre down the straights and into the corners are a thing of the past. Instead, they need to harvest battery power, lift-and-coast and super clip.<\/p>\n Unless something changes, and soon, the GT3-loving father of one could walk away from Formula 1 before the end of his current Red Bull<\/a> contract that expires in 2028.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very realistic in that [being P8 or 8] and I\u2019ve been there before. I\u2019ve not only been winning in F1,\u201dhe told BBC Radio 5 Live. \u201cBut at the same time, when you are in P7 or P8 and you are not enjoying the whole formula behind it, it doesn\u2019t feel natural to a racing driver.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to here to have fun and have a great time and enjoy myself. At the moment that\u2019s not really the case.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cIt\u2019s a bit sad to be honest that we\u2019re even talking about this. It is what it is. You don\u2019t need to feel sorry for me. I\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n His father Jos Verstappen weighed in on his son\u2019s thinking.<\/p>\n Max Verstappen\u2019s Japanese GP woes analysed<\/p>\n F1 data exposes why Max Verstappen\u2019s Japanese GP charge stalled<\/a><\/p>\n Kimi Antonelli leads winners and losers as Japanese Grand Prix shifts momentum<\/a> \u201cYou\u2019re told it\u2019s just a matter of getting used to it, but I\u2019m certain Max won\u2019t enjoy it this way. Of course, he always tries to make the best of it. That\u2019s a separate issue,\u201d he told De Telegraaf. <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s doing everything he can with Red Bull to become more competitive, but racing in these cars doesn\u2019t challenge him.<\/p>\n \u201cTo be honest, I\u2019m a bit worried that Max might lose his motivation. He used to think racing in a Formula 1 car was the best thing in the world, but now I\u2019m rather pessimistic about it. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to say it wasn\u2019t the case, but I do see this becoming a problem with regard to his future.\u201d<\/p>\n The Dutchman hopes the 9 April meeting between Formula 1 and the FIA will yield changes to the regulations that make the racing better, but he accepts that the political games in Formula 1 could put paid to any progress.<\/p>\n \u201cThey really do listen to him, I\u2019m convinced of that,\u201d said Jos. \u201cIt\u2019s possible they might make a few minor changes to the regulations this year, but that won\u2019t make a difference.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope there will be major changes for next season or, if necessary, the year after. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m particularly pleased that Max just tells it like it is. It just so happens to be my son. But I think we should appreciate the fact that drivers like that still exist.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cIt\u2019s also a political game. It\u2019s not always easy to bring about change.<\/p>\n \u201cToto Wolff and Mercedes will want to stick to these regulations for as long as possible.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve invested a lot of money and time in this and clearly have a head start, including in terms of knowledge compared to their own customer teams. That\u2019s their prerogative, of course. They can capitalise on this now.\u201d<\/p>\n As for his own opinion on the new Formula 1 era, the 54-year-old revealed he\u2019s already switching off the TV as it doesn\u2019t interest him.<\/p>\n \u201cI follow Max closely, of course, and we\u2019re in regular contact,\u201d he explained, \u201cbut it\u2019s hard to get excited about it when I watch the sessions and hear where they have to ease off the throttle. <\/p>\n \u201cTwo weeks ago, I was still getting up in the middle of the night for the free practice in China, but I switched off the television after fifteen minutes and went back to sleep. I\u2019d never done that with Formula 1 before. That perhaps says something.\u201d<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n
According to the former F1 driver, Formula 1 used to be the best racing, and now he\u2019s just not enjoying it.<\/p>\n