Christian Horner makes Max Verstappen F1 retirement statement after winning third title

After winning his third championship, Christian Horner announces Max Verstappen’s retirement from Formula 1.

Christian Horner made an assessment about Max Verstappen’s future after the Dutch driver finished second in the Qatar Grand Prix Sprint race on Saturday, securing his third Formula 1 world championship.

Christian Horner acknowledged that he thinks Max Verstappen will leave Formula 1 when he’s still a young man.

This season, 42-year-old Fernando Alonso is demonstrating that Formula One drivers can compete for a very long time.
And after signing a new contract with Mercedes last month, Lewis Hamilton will continue to compete in the sport after turning 40.

Verstappen, however, has frequently stated that he has no intention of playing in the sport for that long.
He won his third title on Saturday by placing second in the Qatar Grand Prix Sprint, making him a three-time world champion by the age of 26.

The Red Bull racer still has a great deal of time to become the most decorated driver in the history of the sport.
Only if he changes his mind and decides to continue in Formula One will that happen.

Verstappen will remain with the team and in racing through the end of his current Red Bull contract, which expires in 2028 when he turns 31.
After that, team owner Horner acknowledges he might lose his star player.

He wrote for the Press Association, “Will Max be in Formula 1 for a long, long time?
I don’t think so.
“He has goals outside of racing and F1.
36 also seems far away at 26.

“We have a long-term contract with him that lasts until 2028, and he has always said he will be happy to begin and end his career here, but motivation will be an important consideration.
“.

Verstappen was discovered by Red Bull as a promising teenager, and they signed him before Mercedes could get his signature, according to Horner.
“Max in karting had been the topic of much discussion.
In his inaugural Formula Three race at Silverstone in 2014, that’s when I first saw him,” he wrote.

I recalled mentioning that this young man appeared to be the real deal to Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s motorsport consultant.
At the Norisring in Germany, Helmut observed him and became persuaded.

Red Bull could take him to Formula 1 right away, despite interest from Mercedes and Niki Lauda.
He therefore arrived with us at a very young age.
He was 16.
But you could tell in the seat fitting that the confidence he had for a young guy was exceptional.
I also recall that on his very first outing for us, a demonstration run in Rotterdam, he removed the front wing from the car.
“.