Max Verstappen was on the verge of retiring, scoffs: “Paddock is like a zoo”

Four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen sat down for an interview with Dutch journalist Erik Van Haren from De Telegraaf. The Red Bull Racing star emphasised once again just how unhappy he was at the start of the 2026 Grand Prix season.

His criticism of the 2026 generation of racing cars is well documented, and Max certainly didn’t mince his words. But his aim was never simply to stir things up.

Verstappen in *De Telegraaf*: “That wasn’t my aim; I’m simply stating my opinion and pointing out what’s going wrong, whilst also making suggestions on how things could be improved.”

“Sometimes I get criticised for my behaviour, but perhaps that’s because people don’t understand what I’m trying to say. In the end, it always becomes clear whether something is right or wrong. It’s just that sometimes it takes a bit longer than in other situations.”

“At the start of the season, I hit rock bottom, especially during the first few Grand Prix weekends. I’d never experienced a feeling like that before. I was close to retiring.”

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“Clearly, the sport has, to some extent, listened to our demands, and there will be changes in the coming years, with a slightly more significant role for the internal combustion engine.”

“What’s more, I feel really at home at Red Bull Racing – with the people I work with and the way we operate as a team. For us, results come first; they’re the most important thing. But you also need to feel comfortable and valued, and that’s certainly the case here.”

“The outlook is positive, even if that’s no guarantee that I’ll stay in the sport until at least 2030. You can never say something like that with certainty, but that’s the aim.”

Not everything about modern Formula 1 appeals to Max Verstappen. The 29-year-old Dutchman continues: “Lately, the paddock really does look like a zoo. Often it’s no longer possible to have a quick chat with anyone – in fact, you can’t really do it at all anymore. So I spend the weekends shuttling between the pits and my lounge.”

‘Even in our guest areas, there are too many people who want something from you. Of course, they mean well, but as a driver I also need to be able to rest without being constantly disturbed. I know this is all part of the game and that, the more you achieve, the more people expect from you. From that point of view, the hustle and bustle is actually a good sign.”