“I want to be here to have fun, have a great time, and enjoy myself. At the moment, that’s not really the case.” Those were the words of Max Verstappen after finishing eighth in the Japanese GP. After three opening races in which he has consistently expressed his discontent with the RB22 and the new regulations, one question looms: Is Formula 1 ready to see him walk away?
Commercially speaking, Max is one of the most valuable brands in the world. His talent on track, his raw, authentic personality, and his “Orange Army” of followers – both at the circuit and online – make him a commodity no one wants to lose.
The paddock is simply another platform that provides visibility for a driver capable of mobilising thousands. The most recent example? His participation in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring drew approximately 50,000 additional attendees to the event. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Max’s GT3 debut also outperformed F1’s viewership numbers in Germany. He showed up, he enjoyed it, and he won. Although he was later disqualified for using more tyres than allowed, Verstappen confirmed that he is not drawn to the glitz of the paddock, but to a car that lets him have fun.
With F1 organisers and viewers used to seeing the Orange Army fill the stands, the sport risks facing empty seats at more than one circuit – a situation already seen at historic venues such as Silverstone, although this was partly linked to Red Bull’s dominance. Losing Max doesn’t just mean losing a driver; it means losing a demographic that buys tickets by the tens of thousands and keeps broadcasters’ servers running at full capacity.
Known for his blunt honesty, Verstappen would certainly not miss the demanding media commitments or the technical “handcuffs” of regulation updates that can stifle his talent. As he looks towards Miami, perhaps with more scepticism than excitement, the scenario of him walking away cannot be ignored. If the Dutchman pulls the plug, WEC and other endurance series would be waiting with open arms. Races that are rarely sold out would become “must-see” events, and championships offering free live streams would suddenly gain the leverage to capitalise on significant media rights opportunities.
The sport currently finds itself in a delicate standoff. Formula 1 needs Max Verstappen to maintain its commercial peak, but Max Verstappen does not need Formula 1 to feel like a racer. The question is no longer whether Max is ready to leave, but whether F1 can afford to let him.