Jos Verstappen expresses belief that Max will remain in F1 following Gianpiero Lambiase’s exit.
Jos Verstappen, the father of Max Verstappen, anticipates that his son will remain in Formula 1 despite the recent news regarding his long-time race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, who is set to depart Red Bull for McLaren.
Lambiase’s exit, which is currently planned for the conclusion of 2027, has sparked speculation that Verstappen might leave F1 at the end of this season.
After finishing eighth at the Japanese Grand Prix last month, Verstappen mentioned he was contemplating leaving F1 before his Red Bull contract concludes at the end of 2028.
Comments from 2021, where Verstappen stated he would not collaborate with any engineer other than Lambiase, have resurfaced recently, prompting speculation that the four-time world champion is considering his own departure.
However, during a rally event this week, Jos Verstappen indicated that his son’s future is not directly tied to Lambiase’s situation.
“I believe circumstances have evolved [since 2021],” he told Racexpress. “Particularly after achieving four championships, a lot has been accomplished together.
“The final decision rests with Max, but I genuinely think he will continue.”
Jos Verstappen, who has played a pivotal role in managing Max’s career since his early days in go-karts, confirmed that the news about Lambiase was not unexpected.
“We have been aware of it for some time and knew when it would occur,” he added. “So we have another year and a half, or let’s say two years, to work with him.
“It is a significant opportunity for him, and we understand that. We also said he must pursue it and embrace it fully. The rest is up to Red Bull to find a replacement.
“So we will see.”
Verstappen has openly expressed his dissatisfaction with F1’s new regulations, which have shifted the focus towards power unit performance and reduced driver engagement.
Following the recent grand prix in Japan, the four-time champion indicated he was contemplating leaving F1 at the end of the year due to his aversion to the new generation of cars.
“Of course, I try to adapt, but the way racing is conducted is not enjoyable,” the Red Bull driver remarked. “It feels very anti-driving. At some point, it just isn’t what I want to do.”
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Nonetheless, Jos Verstappen believes that the proposed modifications to the rules, intended to lessen the focus on battery power management, could be sufficient to keep his son in F1.
“I think so,” he stated. “It appears that Formula 1 and the FIA are planning to revise the regulations after all. Look at what they can implement this year; that will be beneficial.
“However, I think everyone, including fans and drivers, is expressing significant dissatisfaction. I believe it is important for Formula 1 to address this as well. But I think they are quite aware of what needs to be done.
“As a driver, I find it less enjoyable too. Occasionally, I watch and then turn off the television because it captivates me less. It is not the Formula 1 that it is meant to represent.
“Where so much is demanded of the driver, it has now become more of an engineering contest where the driver has to ease off significantly. They can no longer make a difference as a driver.
“I think that is unfortunate for Formula 1.”
Source: espn.com
