For a driver who has spent years bending F1 to his will, Max Verstappen suddenly looks like a man running out of patience, leading fellow world champion Damon Hill to suggest that maybe it’s time for the Dutchman to step away.
Hill’s remarks land squarely in the middle of Verstappen’s increasingly public frustration with the sport’s direction, particularly the complex modern regulations that have transformed wheel-to-wheel combat into something the Red Bull driver has compared to a video game.
But Hill, never one to tiptoe around the topic, believes Verstappen’s complaints may say more about his mindset than the rulebook.
‘Maybe he needs a break’
Verstappen has repeatedly hinted that his Formula 1 career could end sooner rather than later, insisting he has little desire to still be racing into his 40s.
The four-time champion has made it clear that once the enjoyment fades, he will not hesitate to walk away.
Hill thinks that logic should be taken seriously – and perhaps sooner than Verstappen intends.
"I think if you're not happy doing something, you should stop and do something else," Hill told the BBC. "You're not obliged to do it.
"Max doesn't have to do this. He's a new dad as well, and he's been doing it for a long time. There does come a point where the chewing gum loses its flavour a bit. Maybe he needs a break."
It’s a striking message directed at the sport’s most formidable driver: if the passion is fading, step aside.
Verstappen’s growing frustration
The tension between Verstappen and Formula 1’s rulemakers has been simmering for years. Ever since the current regulations were first revealed, the Red Bull star has been among their fiercest critics, repeatedly questioning whether the racing still reflects the pure skill of the drivers.
A major sticking point has been the heavy reliance on battery deployment strategies, which can dictate when drivers attack or defend.
While the system has produced more overtakes on paper, many drivers argue the spectacle is misleading – a cycle of pass-and-repay moves driven by energy management rather than raw racing instinct.
Verstappen himself has mocked the spectacle, comparing it to “Mario Kart” and suggesting that fans who enjoy the current style of racing “know nothing about racing.”
Hill, however, isn’t convinced those public jabs are the way to force change.
The leverage problem
The Williams ambassador suspects Verstappen’s blunt commentary may be intended as a pressure tactic – but he doubts it will work.
"If he's saying this in order to get some leverage on the way things are at the moment, I don't think that will work," added Hill.
"I think that approach... people will just say 'Max, go away, come back when you've had a think about it.' You can't always get what you want."
Read also: Brundle drops his sharp verdict on Verstappen retirement talkIt’s a pointed reminder that even the most successful drivers aren’t bigger than the sport itself.
For now, Verstappen remains tied to Red Bull, where he has built one of the most dominant eras in Formula 1 history. But if the reigning champion truly believes the magic is fading, Hill’s message is simple – stop threatening to leave and actually take the break.
Because in Hill’s view, Formula 1 will keep moving either way.
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