BAKU, Azerbaijan — Max Verstappen says he isn’t motivated by profitable a document variety of Method One titles by the top of his profession and is as a substitute tempted by racing in different classes of motorsport when his Pink Bull contract expires.
The present document for essentially the most championship victories is collectively held by Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher on seven, whereas Verstappen has two to his title and is already in a powerful place so as to add a 3rd this yr.
Verstappen has a contract with Pink Bull that runs by to the top of 2028, that means a profitable spree over the approaching years may see him draw degree and even beat the present document by the top of that deal, however the 25-year-old says the variety of titles he wins will not be his essential consideration going ahead.
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“I am not fascinated about seven or eight titles,” he mentioned. “In case you have the automotive to take action then sensible, however even when it would not, I am joyful. I am already joyful.”
The subject got here up throughout Thursday’s media day for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after the reigning champion mentioned he “will not be round for too lengthy” if Method One continues so as to add extra dash races to the calendar.
He clarified these feedback in Baku, saying it was extra a priority in regards to the period of time F1 consumes every year and his want to strive different disciplines in motorsport.
“I all the time mentioned that anyway, even when there will not be any extra dash races or no matter, if we maintain increasing the calendar and the entire weekend is that lengthy, at one level, you query your self is it price it?” Verstappen mentioned. “I do like racing, I do like profitable. I do know that the wage and every little thing, you’ve life. However is it really life?
“I feel generally you get to a degree in your profession the place you wish to do different stuff. And I do know that I’ve after all a contract till the top of ’28, after which we’ll evaluate once more.
“However yeah, I do really feel that if it is getting at one level an excessive amount of, it is time for a change. I feel you all the time need to be speaking to your self, trying to your self, are you continue to motivated, totally motivated, and do you’re keen on what you do?
“In the meanwhile that’s positively the case. There’ll for positive be a degree the place you wish to do perhaps different stuff as effectively. Generally, it sounds very bizarre for folks from the surface, as a result of they’re saying ‘ah you are in Method One, you are profitable’, and doubtless I might have mentioned the identical once I was of their place.
“However when you’re in it, it isn’t all the time the way it appears to be like like or how folks suppose your life is. Sure, it is nice, it is superb, you are able to do a variety of issues. Very unbiased. However there’s all the time a restrict.”
Talking particularly in regards to the dash race, Verstappen mentioned he understood F1’s want so as to add extra motion to a weekend however feels it takes a few of the shine away from the principle occasion on Sunday.
“It is like I mentioned earlier than, I have a look at it from a racing perspective, and doubtless F1 appears to be like at it from a enterprise perspective,” he mentioned. “In fact I perceive, these dash races, they most likely add a bit extra pleasure. However I have a look at it from the racing perspective.
“Usually once you then do the dash races, that is thrilling, few shunts in there, injury, blah blah blah, security automotive, a bit extra pleasure. However all through the race, you get fairly a transparent image of what’s occurring, who’s quickest, so that you even have fairly a transparent view on what will occur on the subsequent day. That most likely takes a bit the shine away from the principle occasion, which I feel all the time must be the particular occasion.”