Verstappen insisted it is \u201cmentally not doable for me to stay like this\u201d if a proposal that would see the power unit split move from its current near 50-50 between internal combustion and electrical energy to 60-40 did not happen in 2027.<\/p>\n
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Verstappen’s future in F1 remains uncertain<\/p>\n
Speaking to Crash.net<\/a> via BetGoodwin<\/a>, Hopkins, who served as Red Bull<\/a>\u2019s head of operations from 2013 to 2015, believes Verstappen\u2019s repeated quit threats are genuine and not a \u201cfalse promise\u201d.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n \u201cI think it probably is, to be perfectly honest with you,\u201d Hopkins said. \u201cHis recent exploits driving a GT3 car, I think that for him made him realise that this is \u2018real racing\u2019, whatever that really means.<\/p>\n \u201cNot quite grassroots, still obviously top-level motorsport, but a very different type of motorsport. Very raw, big V8 engine, and Formula 1 isn\u2019t that today. It’s still racing and it’s still innovation and technology at the very highest level.<\/p>\n \u201cI think this is real. I don’t think it’s a false promise. I think the threat is real and if they don’t adhere to his demands, I think the likelihood is that he might depart the sport. I think the reason he’s doing it is for the sport. He genuinely thinks it’s incorrect at the moment and needs changing. And he’s using his position, hopefully being a voice for everybody, not just Max Verstappen, I think that’s where he’s coming from.<\/p>\n \u201cIf he doesn’t get what he wants, will he carry out the threat? I wouldn’t be surprised if he does. It’s not like he’s still chasing that first win or that first world championship. So there is a bit of a sense of, \u2018what do I want to do with the rest of my racing career’?<\/p>\n \u201cHas he done everything he wants to do in Formula 1? No, probably not. I’m sure he’s still got aspirations for more wins and more world championships. But if he went to go and do Le Mans and other categories, yeah, why not?\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Verstappen is not a fan of the 2026 engine rules<\/p>\n \u00a9\u00a0XPB Images<\/p>\n While Hopkins thinks Verstappen deciding to exit F1 would be a huge loss, he insisted the world championship is \u201c100 percent\u201d bigger than any one driver.<\/p>\n \u201cLook, if the likes of Formula 1, with all the amazing people in Formula 1, the amazing investment in Formula 1, the amazing partners and associations and everything else, the hundreds of millions of people who watch Formula 1 and make Formula 1 what it is, are dependent on one person, we\u2019re in a bit of a worrying position, aren’t we?\u201d Hopkins added.<\/p>\n \u201cMax is amazing. He’s a sensational driver. Red Bull might not be favourites for this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix, but you can never underestimate Max Verstappen, can you? And I guess for sure it would be sad if he left, but I think Formula 1’s in a decent enough place that it could certainly carry on without him. I think we’ll all be fickle about it and go, \u2018God, that’s a shame. And then the next day we’ll just carry on regardless.<\/p>\n \u201cThe moment that Formula 1 gets in a position where it’s not [bigger than a driver], then we’re really worried. Back in the Concorde Agreement and Bernie Ecclestone days, when everybody was wrangling for a bigger slice of the pie, Ferrari didn’t believe that they were getting what they deserved to get, being Ferrari, and made multiple threats of leaving the sport.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n \u201cClearly, they never did. That was never going to happen and probably Bernie succumbed to their demands. But the sport should never be all about one person or one team. It\u2019s a big industry and it’s a very powerful one today. So it would certainly carry on.\u201d<\/p>\n Should Verstappen decide to stay in F1, exactly where his future lies will likely remain a hot topic.<\/p>\n![\"Verstappen](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/xpb_1411296_hires_0.jpg\")
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