Max Verstappen says he’s closer to the end of his F1 career than the start

Max Verstappen celebrates 200 F1 races, hints at retirement before 400, keeping future options open.

Heading into his 200th career Formula 1 race, Max Verstappen is clear that he doesn't want to stick around for No. 400.

At the age of 26, Verstappen is the youngest F1 driver to reach the 200-race milestone, and he's doing it in front of his home crowd at the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday (August 24, 2024).

“No,” Verstappen said bluntly when asked on Thursday (August 22, 2024) if he could imagine another 200 F1 races — equivalent to just over eight more seasons — in his future.

“So we passed halfway for sure, but it’s been already of course an incredible ride,” he added. “It doesn’t feel like 200, but of course we’re doing a lot of races now in a year, so you add them quite quickly.”

No driver has yet reached 400 races in F1, though Aston Martin's 43-year-old Fernando Alonso is set to mark his 395th race weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix.

Three-time defending champion Verstappen has a contract with Red Bull through 2028 and isn't about to retire any time soon, but he seems unwilling to follow the example of Lewis Hamilton, who will turn 40 next year as he switches from Mercedes to Ferrari and is heading into his 347th race on Sunday (August 24, 2024).

One factor for Verstappen that could sway an eventual decision is the detail of the new F1 regulations being introduced for 2026.