Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has stated he has no interest in returning to the sport in a management capacity once he retires as a driver. The 28-year-old Red Bull racer, contracted until 2028, emphasized his focus on winning and potential shifts to other racing categories like endurance. He expressed passion for bridging simulator racing to real-world competition.
Max Verstappen, the reigning four-time Formula 1 world champion, has firmly ruled out any future involvement in the sport as a manager or team principal after hanging up his driving helmet. Speaking in an interview with TAG Heuer, the 28-year-old Dutch driver, who is bound to Red Bull until the end of 2028, reiterated his all-or-nothing approach to racing.
"I'm only there to win. I'm not there to just participate because that for me is not sustainable, then it's not fun anymore," Verstappen said. He has previously hinted at possibly leaving F1 if the 2026 regulations diminish his enjoyment or if his competitive edge wanes.
Speculation had swirled about Verstappen stepping into a leadership role at Red Bull's Milton Keynes headquarters post-retirement. However, he dismissed this outright, stating, "I like being in F1 as a driver, I don't think I would ever come back in F1 in a management role let's say like that."
Instead, Verstappen's post-F1 ambitions lean toward endurance racing, such as the World Endurance Championship, where he aims to compete before his mid-30s. He is particularly enthusiastic about nurturing talent from the simulator world into professional circuits. "One of my goals is to bring a simulator driver into the real world. That has happened this year already and he's doing very well," he noted, adding his desire to expand opportunities for young drivers lacking financial means.
"Racing," Verstappen laughed when asked about passions outside the sport, before elaborating on his vision for sim-to-real transitions beyond F1. This reflects his broader commitment to motorsport accessibility while prioritizing enjoyment in his current role.
