Max Verstappen: Red Bull driver positive about F1 rules tweaks talks and leaving sport not really what he wants to do
"I don't want to leave, really," says Max Verstappen, who is hopeful discussions over improvements to F1's new ruleset will prove fruitful; watch the Chinese GP Sprint weekend with Practice at 3.30am and Sprint Qualifying from 7.30am on Friday, live on Sky Sports F1
Thursday 12 March 2026 09:58, UK
Max Verstappen says he is engaged in talks with Formula 1 and the FIA over how to make improvements to the sport's new rules.
Verstappen has been a vocal critic of the 2026 regulations, which feature a 50-50 split between internal combustion and electrical power and require more energy deployment strategies, and stated that he is not enjoying driving the latest cars as much as the previous generation.
That has cast doubt about the four-time world champion's long-term future in the sport.
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But speaking in the Drivers' Press Conference ahead of this weekend's second round in China, Verstappen - who this week confirmed his participation in the Nurburgring 24 Hours between grands prix dates in May - said he was nonetheless "conflicted" about the situation and was engaged in helping the sport's bosses make refinements for the future.
"I don't want to leave, really," said Verstappen, whose Red Bull contract runs to 2028 but is thought to contain break clauses.
"I wish I had a bit more fun, for sure, but I'm also doing other stuff that is a lot of fun. I get to race the Nordschleife. I hope in the coming years I get to do Spa [24 Hours], hopefully Le Mans.
"So I'm combining stuff to find other stuff I find really fun as well. I have my [Verstappen Racing] team going on, so I have a lot of distractions at the same time - positive distractions, I would call it.
"But at the same time it's a bit conflicting because I don't really enjoy driving the car, but I do enjoy working with all the people in the team and from the engine department as well. It's almost like a bit of a mind… I can't swear, it's 5K [fine] now!
"I don't want to leave so I also hope of course it gets better. I've had discussions with F1 and the FIA and we are working towards something and hopefully that will improve everything."
On the nature of those discussions with the sport's bosses, Verstappen said: "I definitely hope not [that it's the same] for the next few years. I hope already for next year we can make a decent improvement.
"There are a few options that we're discussing."
Verstappen: Red Bull 'cannot fight' with Mercedes, Ferrari yet
Verstappen finished sixth at last weekend's season-opening Australian Grand Prix in a strong recovery drive after a crash in qualifying had left him 20th on the grid.
He believes Red Bull's car and engine has "a lot of potential" to exploit yet but admits the presence of a gap to the Mercedes and Ferrari cars, which finished in the top-four positions in Melbourne, is clear.
"I think if I would have started, let's say, a little bit up front, I think the best that I could have done was one spot higher because we didn't have the pace of the top four cars," he said.
"We also had a lot of degradation and graining. We'll see what happens in the coming races, if we can close that gap a little bit."
Asked if this weekend's race in China would prove a better circuit for Red Bull, Verstappen replied: "Honestly, it's such a jungle out there at the moment. I think that it's very hard to really know.
"I mean, I would hope that it gets a bit closer, not even bigger than the gap that it was in Melbourne, but it's clear that at the moment we cannot fight with those cars."
Sky Sports F1's Chinese GP schedule
Friday March 13
1.05am: F1 Academy Practice
3am: Chinese GP Practice (session starts at 3.30am)*
5.30am: Team Bosses Press Conference*
6am: F1 Academy Qualifying*
6.45am: Chinese GP Sprint Qualifying (session starts at 7.30am)*
Saturday March 14
2.25am: Chinese GP Sprint build-up*
3am: CHINESE GP SPRINT*
4.30am: Ted's Sprint Notebook*
5.30am: F1 Academy Race 1*
6.30am: Chinese GP Qualifying build-up*
7am: CHINESE GP QUALIFYING*
9am: Ted's Qualifying Notebook*
Sunday March 15
2.35am: F1 Academy Race 2*
5.30am: Chinese GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
7am: THE CHINESE GRAND PRIX*
9am: Chinese GP reaction: Chequered Flag*
10am: Ted's Notebook*
*Also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 is in Shanghai for the first Sprint weekend of the 2026 season at the Chinese Grand Prix from this Friday, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime
