Verstappen pledges future to Formula 1 and Red Bull, awaits engine rule shake-up

But his long-term future won’t be decided overnight. “Diese Entscheidung muss nicht heute oder morgen fallen,” he noted, emphasizing that “es geht um viel mehr als nur den Formel-1-Vertrag.” For Verstappen, factors beyond the contract itself weigh heavily.

A Clear Commitment to the Future

One of those factors is his passion for endurance racing. Verstappen spoke enthusiastically about competing in a GT3 car on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, where he recently missed a 24‑hour race victory only because of a technical defect. If the iconic race falls on a Formula‑1‑free weekend in 2027, “dann möchte ich dort auch wieder an den Start gehen,” he said.

Meanwhile, on the Grand Prix track, the current generation of cars is not to Verstappen’s liking. Under the 2026 power unit rules, roughly half of the horsepower comes from the battery and the other half from the combustion engine, forcing drivers to manage energy carefully.

Verstappen told the newspaper that the need to lift off the throttle in certain sections — where drivers once raced without restraint — grates against the very nature of the sport. He described the experience as a constant interruption of the flow that makes Formula 1 special.

Frustrations with Current Regulations

The four‑time champion described the planned regulation shift for next season as an improvement over the current situation. Under the proposed change, the ratio between combustion engine and battery power would tilt in favor of the traditional engine.

“Ich hoffe, dass alle ihr Wort halten. Aber ich kann bestätigen, dass ich in der Formel 1 bleibe,” Verstappen said, linking his continued presence to the promised technical direction. The revised rules, he believes, will produce closer, more aggressive racing.

Seen from that angle, his decision to stay “auf jeden Fall” makes sense. Verstappen believes the sport is heading in a better direction and is relaxed about the future — even if his current season has yet to deliver a podium.

Hope for Rule Changes

On the track in Montreal, the immediate challenge is more modest. In Friday’s sprint qualifying at the Canadian Grand Prix, Verstappen could only manage seventh place, 0.539 seconds behind pole‑sitter George Russell.

Russell’s Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli took second on the grid, just 0.068 seconds back. The sprint race will start on Saturday at 18:00 CEST, with qualifying for the main Grand Prix following at 22:00 CEST, both broadcast live on ServusTV.

A Weekend in Montreal

The Dutchman’s long‑term commitment, however, overshadows one difficult qualifying session. Whether he chases wins in a Red Bull or laps the Nordschleife in a GT3 machine, Verstappen is making clear that his love for racing will keep him at full throttle.