The idea of Max Verstappen taking a quiet sabbatical from Formula 1? Jenson Button isn’t buying it. In fact, he’s suggesting something far more dramatic: if the reigning superstar loses his spark, he won’t step back – he’ll step out for good.
It’s a bold claim, but one that gains traction when set against Verstappen’s own increasingly restless tone.
The four-time world champion has never hidden the fact that enjoyment – not legacy – drives his career. And right now, that enjoyment appears to be fading fast.
A conflicted mindset
Frustration with Formula 1’s new direction has been bubbling. The shift toward battery-heavy performance has left Verstappen openly disillusioned, likening the racing to something closer to gaming than pure competition.
Behind the scenes, his mindset seems even more conflicted.
Speaking in Suzuka last time out, Verstappen admitted: “You know how I think about stuff, I don’t need to mention it again. So yeah, a lot of stuff obviously for me, personally, to figure out.”
©Red Bull
Pressed further, he didn’t elaborate on technicalities or results – but on something deeper: “Life here.”
A day later, the reflection sharpened into something more existential:
“I’m thinking about everything inside this paddock… You just think about, is it worth it? Or do I enjoy being more at home with my family, seeing my friends more when you’re not enjoying your sport?”
For a driver at the peak of his powers, it was a striking admission – and one that fuels speculation about what comes next.
No halfway exit
Button believes there’s no middle ground with Verstappen. No recharge year, no Schumacher – or Alonso-style return. Just a clean break.
“Personally, it doesn’t feel like he’s the kind of guy who takes a sabbatical,” the 2009 world champion said. “He’s either racing or he’s not.
“If he wants to stop and go do something else, that’s fun as well.
“I think this will be his last ‘career’ in F1. I don’t think he’ll take a year out and come back. I don’t think that’s the Max I’ve come to know.”
Adding intrigue to the situation is the looming departure of his long-time engineer GianPiero Lambiase, a key figure in Verstappen’s success, who is set to leave Red Bull Racing for McLaren by 2028.
“Only a few weeks before it was announced that Lambiase was going to McLaren, Max came out and said ‘I can’t ever imagine racing with him by my side’,” Button continued. “But it’s 2028, it’s another two years ago. We’ll see.
Read also: Mystery damage ruins Verstappen’s charge in Nürburgring NLS5“But it’s exciting, there’s so much to look forward to with the driver market over the next few years.
“Max is always going to be the centre of attention because he’s in a car, at the moment, that’s not performing. We’re used to him being at the front, and he’s not.”
For now, Verstappen remains under contract – but the mood music is shifting. And if Button is right, Formula 1 may not get a warning when its biggest star decides he’s had enough.
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