Max Verstappen has just penned a fresh contract to stay with Red Bull through 2030, but honestly, it sounds like he's already checked out of 2027. The four-time champion has been absolutely miserable all season with the current engine regulations and Red Bull's struggling RB22, to the point where he's openly flirted with retirement from F1. Finishing sixth at the summer break, his lowest position at the halfway mark since 2018, he'd actually earned the right to leave via a release clause. Red Bull must've been sweating bullets that he'd actually pull the plug.

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Here's the thing though, it wasn't really the car that pushed Verstappen to stay or go. Sure, he's been vocal about the RB22 being undrivable and completely broken at times, but his real issue is with the 2026 power units themselves. He absolutely despises the battery having such a massive role in the new regulations, and that hatred ran way deeper than any frustration with Red Bull's performance. According to insiders, there was genuine danger of him retiring from the sport entirely because of these engine changes. Without F1 agreeing to modify the regulations, he very well might've walked away for good.

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So what saved the situation? F1 listened and made changes to the engine formula starting in 2027. The power split between the internal combustion engine and battery will shift from near 50/50 to 58/42 in 2027, then 60/40 in 2028. They're doing this by adjusting fuel flow and letting the ICE produce more power while reducing the battery regeneration demand. Verstappen reckons this will bring back the pure racing he's missing, which is why he's already writing off 2027 and looking ahead to 2028 as his timeline for enjoying F1 again.

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The reality is Max has made 2028 his target year for competing for wins properly. Red Bull know they've got work to do improving the car to give him the weapons he needs to fight up front when these better engine regulations roll in. If they can't close the gap to Mercedes and the others before then, Verstappen might still come knocking on someone else's door about a move. For now though, at least Red Bull can breathe easy that their star driver isn't ditching them.

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