Max Verstappen exit would be “not a great look” for F1 – Oscar Piastri

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.

“It would be a shame for us because as much as he makes our lives incredibly tough at times, he’s always good fun to race against and it’s always cool to race against someone that’s won four world championships. You always feel like you want to race against the best in the world and he certainly is one of them.”

However, Norris also praised Verstappen’s ethos, as the Dutchman feels free to trial other disciplines in racing after dedicating his life so far to F1.

“Max has earned the right to go and do whatever he wants,” Norris insisted. “He’s won four world championships and he’s always been that guy, it’s not just now. He’s always been very open to say what he thinks, whether you agree or not or whether you should say it or shouldn’t. He’s himself and I think that’s a very good way to live your life. 

“It would be a loss for the sport, but to be honest, I also enjoy watching all the GTs on the weekend. If it gives me something to go watch and watch him in other categories, that’s also a good thing for me.

“It would be a shame. But he’s also driven some of the best cars that you see. I think it’s relative for the people because when you see the new guys who are coming and this is their first year in Formula 1, everyone is like, ‘Yeah, these cars are sick’. For the guys who have driven last year’s cars and for some of the previous ones, of course we have something to compare against. It’s still kind of relative for everyone, but hopefully things get better.”

Verstappen has long made it clear that he had no interest in beating F1’s all-time records – he’s currently on four titles, 48 pole positions and 71 victories to Lewis Hamilton’s seven crowns, 104 poles and 105 wins respectively – or staying the world championship until his 40s like Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.

Still, Norris believes Verstappen won’t leave anytime soon: “He said he wants to win a fifth world championship at the minute, so I’m sure he’ll stay longer than people say.”

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– The Motorsport.com Team

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