Verstappen Says He Was Closer to Quitting Than Joining a Rival Team

Overview

• Verstappen told Bild on Sunday that he seriously considered retiring from Formula 1 and that leaving the sport was a more real option than signing for another team.
• He has extended his Red Bull contract beyond his previously reported 2028 deal and rejected claims the move was driven mainly by money.
• A key condition for staying was Red Bull’s willingness to let him compete in endurance events, with Verstappen saying Le Mans and Daytona appeal only if they fit his schedule and give him input on car performance.
• Persistent frustration with the 2026 technical regulations and periods of poor Red Bull car performance, plus a heavy crash at Zandvoort, helped push him toward considering quitting before he decided to remain.
• The admission reinforces Verstappen’s outsized influence on team planning and the driver market and signals that future negotiations will likely focus on schedule, technical control for endurance programmes, and undisclosed contract clauses.