Sky Sports F1 expert Martin Brundle has shed light on the indicators that will suggest when Max Verstappen might consider retirement from Formula 1.
Verstappen himself has hinted at the possibility of retiring earlier than some might anticipate, expressing no desire to mirror Lewis Hamilton’s longevity in the sport, which has seen him compete at a high level into his late thirties.
Despite challenges faced by Red Bull at the beginning of the season, Verstappen managed to secure victories in both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix.
His performance early in the season suggested he was on track to secure his fourth consecutive world championship with the powerful RB20 car.
READ: Christian Horner and Max Verstappen’s dad agree ‘ceasefire’
However, a surprising turn of events at the Australian Grand Prix saw Verstappen retiring from a race for the first time in two years due to a brake issue that caused his car to catch fire.
During the incident, Verstappen communicated his frustration over the team radio, stating: “I lost the car, really weird!”
This marked a significant setback as he had to retire from the race amidst smoke billowing from his car.
Verstappen’s disappointment was palpable as he was forced to abandon the race, thus forfeiting crucial points in the championship race.
His reaction to the early retirement was one of visible frustration, particularly evident when he described the situation as “So stupid!” to one of his engineers.
This episode halted his ambition to match his record of 10 consecutive race wins.
However, Brundle views Verstappen’s frustration as indicative of his intense passion and competitiveness, traits that Red Bull values highly.
READ: Daniel Ricciardo speaks out on pressure from Helmut Marko
In his analysis for Sky Sports, Brundle observed: “Despite his incredible run of successes Verstappen was initially very angry that his car had failed.
“When the adrenaline washes away he has become good at managing these moods now, but if he ever loses that fiery passion in the heat of the moment you’ll know he is getting ready to retire.”
“This passion, especially in light of limited competition over recent seasons, reassures Red Bull of Verstappen’s ongoing commitment to excel in the sport.