Max Verstappen says he can quit F1 but loves racing as Red Bull eases 2026 development

Max Verstappen told the media that he could walk away from Formula 1 at any time but that he loves racing and wants to keep competing. His comments came as Red Bull Racing, struggling with an under‑performing RB22 chassis, admitted dissatisfaction with its Hungarian Grand Prix result, where Verstappen finished second and the team failed to win a race for the first time since 2015.

Team principal Laurent Mekies said the outfit will slow its development pace in the second half of the 2026 season after an intense upgrade campaign that reduced a one‑second deficit to a few tenths. Red Bull is balancing the need to close the performance gap with preparations for next year’s regulations, while the Red Bull‑Ford power unit cannot be further upgraded under the current ADUO rules. The team sits fourth in the constructors' standings and faces speculation about Verstappen’s contract, which runs until 2028 and may contain exit clauses.

The combination of a difficult chassis, regulatory constraints and the driver’s expressed willingness to leave has intensified discussion about the future of both Verstappen and Red Bull in the sport.