Max Verstappen says a sabbatical is “not on the cards,” even as he presses for Formula 1’s 2027 engine-rule changes that aim to tilt power back toward a 60/40 split. The four-time champion links his desire for “pure” racing to how the sport feels to drive.
Max Verstappen has been asked, again and again, whether he might step away from Formula 1 for a while. This time, the answer didn’t leave room for speculation.
Four-time champion Verstappen has made a decision on whether he will take a sabbatical from a sport. He said: “No, not a sabbatical. I’m not that sort of person. If I stop, I’ll stop completely. But that’s not on the cards at the moment.”
The question has hovered over him for months. At the beginning of the season, it was revealed that Verstappen was “seriously considering” retiring from F1. That uncertainty eased when he confirmed his future in Canada after changes to the engine rules.
Those engine rules are now driving the next piece of the debate—because from 2027, the split between electrical power and the internal combustion engine will tip back in favour of the latter to 60/40. The goal is to ensure the more natural way of racing is returned.
Speaking to the press, Verstappen tied his expectations directly to what the sport produces on track. “I just want a good product in Formula 1. And that will for sure improve the product.
“Hopefully that will happen next year. That will already help a lot, because I’ve always said it doesn’t matter if I had a good car or not. It’s just the product. And I think the product will improve like that, so naturally I think the enjoyment will go up as well.”
After the Canadian Grand Prix, he went further—calling F1 “anti-racing” and describing a preference for more “pure” racing series. He set the line in plain terms when he said: “60/40 [power to battery ratio] is the minimum [I’d be happy with]. I know how pure other motorsports can feel like. So then, when you come back to this, it’s just, yeah, not very nice.”.
He also explained what “pure” means to him in motion, not in theory. “I don’t want to be too negative now after a race like this, but I know what it feels like to drive pure racing cars and pure overtakes, pure racing, and just natural driving.
“This is all a bit like very anti-driving, anti-racing. Yeah, and that’s not what Formula 1 should be about. So, I really hope that next year we can get that 60-40 because that will naturally help everything a bit.”
Max Verstappen F1 sabbatical Formula 1 engine rules 2027 60/40 power to battery ratio Red Bull Canadian Grand Prix anti-racing
So he’s not taking a sabbatical, shocker. I just want him to win without all the science stuff.
Wait does the 60/40 mean 60% electric like Tesla and 40% gas? Because if they bring it back to “natural” racing then maybe the cars will finally not sound like vacuums.
“Anti-racing”?? Bro it’s literally racing lol. He’s mad the cars are using batteries but then he wants a “pure” feel like it’s 1999 or something. Also I thought 2027 engines were supposed to be completely different, not just a ratio.
I don’t buy it. If Max says sabbatical isn’t on the cards that means he’s already planning one quietly. And the whole “pure overtakes” thing… overtakes are blocked by aero and strategy, not the battery split. But sure, 60/40 will fix everything 🙄