Following his triumphant third successive world championship win at the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen hinted at the possibility of an early retirement before reaching the coveted F1 title record currently held by Lewis Hamilton.
Verstappen’s journey to this remarkable feat has been nothing short of extraordinary, and as he stands just four championships away from matching the legendary Hamilton and Michael Schumacher, the racing world is abuzz with speculation about his future plans.
Verstappen’s title-clinching moment unfolded at the Qatar Grand Prix, where he needed only three points to secure his championship.
The thrilling sprint race took a dramatic turn when his teammate, Sergio Perez, crashed out, paving the way for Verstappen to claim the title.
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He secured second place in the race behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and is poised to start from pole position in the main race later tonight.
At just 26 years of age, Verstappen seemingly has ample time to chase down Hamilton’s record.
However, the prospect of an early retirement looms large, especially considering his Red Bull contract is set to expire in 2028.
Christian Horner, the Red Bull team principal, dropped hints about Verstappen’s potential career trajectory during the celebrations for his third title.
Horner stated, “He can go on to achieve so much more.
“We are riding a wave at the moment, and we want to continue riding that wave for as long as we can.
“Will Max be in Formula One for a long, long time? I don’t think so.
“He has ambitions beyond F1 and beyond racing. And at 26, 36 seems a long way away.
“We have a long-term agreement with him until 2028, and he has always said he will be happy to start and end his career here, but motivation will be a crucial factor.”
Verstappen’s journey to his third championship title has been marked by a campaign of searing dominance, making this season undoubtedly his most straightforward title win to date.
In his own words, Verstappen shared his thoughts on the significance of this achievement, stating, “This championship is the best one.
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“The first one was the most emotional because that is when my dreams were fulfilled.
“But this has been my best year in terms of performance.
“I am the most proud of this one because of how consistent I have been. I will have quite a few sparkling waters tonight, but I will be here tomorrow [for the main race].”