Max Verstappen warns F1 future 'mentally not doable' without change

Max Verstappen has issued a stark warning over his short-term F1 future, insisting it is "mentally not doable" to continue under the current regulations if meaningful changes are not made to the cars.

Following the Miami Grand Prix earlier this month, F1, the FIA and the teams reached an agreement in principle to move away from the current 50/50 split between combustion engine power and battery deployment. The opening rounds have prompted complaints from several drivers about the characteristics of the new cars, with Verstappen among the most outspoken critics.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's comments represent a direct challenge to the sport's leadership. As a four-time world champion and the grid's dominant figure, his potential exit would be a massive blow to F1's credibility and commercial appeal. The political battle over the proposed power-unit changes now carries existential weight.

The details:

• Proposals for a revised 60/40 power-unit split from 2027 are on the table, but not all manufacturers are aligned on the changes, casting significant doubt over implementation.
• When asked what a collapse of the potential change would mean for his future, Verstappen told media including RacingNews365: "It's going to be a long year next year, which I don't want. If it stays like this, then let's see."
• Pushed on what he meant, he added: "It's just mentally not doable for me to stay."
• The 28-year-old denied he would take a sabbatical, insisting there are "a lot of other fun things out there."
• He called on the FIA to take control: "If the FIA is strong and also from the F1 side, they just need to do it." He added that overruling an objecting manufacturer would be "better for the sport as a whole."

What's next:

Verstappen remains hopeful that an agreement can be reached. "Let's stay on the positive side," he stated. But the clock is ticking. If the proposed changes collapse under political pressure, the sport may face the very real prospect of losing its biggest star.