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F1
Max Verstappen exit would be “not a great look” for F1 – Oscar Piastri
TL;DR
Oscar Piastri warns that Max Verstappen's potential exit from Formula 1 would negatively impact the championship. Verstappen is dissatisfied with the upcoming 2026 regulations and is contemplating his future in the sport.
Key points
- Oscar Piastri comments on Max Verstappen's potential exit from F1
- Verstappen criticizes the new 2026 F1 regulations
- The regulations focus on energy management affecting racing style
- Verstappen enjoys racing GT3 cars in Germany
- He is contemplating personal decisions about his F1 future
Mentioned in this story
Oscar PiastriMax Verstappen
Formula 1
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Oscar Piastri says Max Verstappen leaving Formula 1 wouldn’t be a great look for the world championship, as the Red Bull driver reconsiders his future.
Verstappen has been among the most vocal critics of F1’s new-for-2026 regulations due to the preponderance of energy management, which is preventing drivers from pushing flat out in qualifying, and creating a ‘yo-yo’ style of racing the four-time world champion dislikes.
Verstappen has been seeking and finding enjoyment in GT3 machinery in Germany-based NLS, and said last month he had “life” decisions to make regarding his F1 future, after he hinted at “a lot of stuff for me personally to figure out”.
Asked how big a loss someone as talented as Verstappen would be, and what it said about the new regulations that one of F1’s best drivers could walk away, Piastri said: “It would be a shame if that does end up happening.
“Clearly, the Red Bull doesn't look like the most competitive car at the moment,” he added, with Verstappen’s team down in sixth in the constructors’ championship, “but I think the regulations are obviously being worked on, but they've needed quite a lot of work and they're certainly more complex.
“It would be a shame for the sport to lose Max, especially at this point in his career as well. It would be a big loss for the sport as a whole. For us as drivers, we want to race against the best and try and prove ourselves against the best. Max has shown his calibre in the last 10 years, and I think especially the last five or six, he's been the benchmark.
“For everyone it would be a pretty big shame and obviously not a great look.”
Piastri’s McLaren team-mate Lando Norris concurred: “It would be a shame for the sport, it would be a miss for the sport if that does happen. Because he probably is one of the best drivers you'll see in Formula 1 ever.
Q&A
Why does Oscar Piastri think Max Verstappen might leave F1?
Oscar Piastri believes Verstappen's dissatisfaction with the new 2026 regulations is a key reason for his potential exit from Formula 1.
What are the new regulations in F1 for 2026 that are concerning Verstappen?
The 2026 regulations emphasize energy management, which Verstappen criticizes for limiting drivers' ability to race at full speed and creating an undesirable racing style.
How is Max Verstappen finding enjoyment outside of F1?
Max Verstappen is enjoying racing in GT3 machinery in Germany-based NLS, which contrasts with his frustrations in Formula 1.
What life decisions is Max Verstappen considering regarding his F1 career?
Verstappen has mentioned he has 'life' decisions to make about his future in F1, indicating he is contemplating significant changes.
