Verstappen: “I seriously considered retiring”

Max Verstappenfour-time Formula 1 world champion, declared that “seriously considered” retiring or join another team before signing his renewal with Red Bull last month. Verstappen, who extended his contract until 2030, spoke about his reflections on retirement and confirmed that he had conversations with McLaren in an interview with the German publication ‘Bild’.

“Any conversation with another team has to be taken seriously,” Verstappen said. “But, in the end, “I was closer to leaving Formula 1 than to signing for another team.”said. “Either you leave it or you don’t; it’s a 50/50 decision,” he added. “I seriously considered retiring. But, at the end of the day, I just love competing,” he concluded.

Verstappen, 28, won four consecutive F1 titles between 2021 and 2024, but has not won a race this season. He currently occupies sixth place in the drivers’ standings after finishing second on Sunday in the Spanish Grand Prix, held in Madrid, 147 points behind the leader, Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes).

Verstappen claimed he did not sign his new deal with Red Bull last month due to external pressure. ““If both sides want to work together long-term, why wait?”he commented. “Criticism doesn’t bother me. I don’t care what others think of me. The only thing that matters is how my family, my representation team, the team and I feel about it. I have to be at peace with myself, and I am,” he said.

Verstappen assured that he no longer has anything to prove to himself in F1. “I am a four-time world champion and, after my first title, I had already achieved everything I ever wanted”he stated. “I’m not competing for the history books, but for myself, for the team and for our fans,” he said. Therefore, the decision was finally made quickly.

Unlike Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso, 45, Verstappen stated that he does not expect to continue competing when he reaches quarantine. “I don’t think so, but it’s impossible to predict,” he said. “I will continue competing as long as I enjoy it”he settled. The F1 calendar resumes in two weeks with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.