Max Verstappen says he will quit F1 if he stops believing he is the best driver

Max Verstappen stated he would leave Formula 1 immediately if he stopped believing he is the best driver in the field. The four-time world champion made this declaration to media personnel before the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, asserting that his self-assessment remains unchanged despite missing the title for a second consecutive year. Lando Norris claimed the championship last year, while Kimi Antonelli secured the 2026 crown in Mexico earlier this month. Verstappen’s confidence traces back to his 2015 debut with Toro Rosso at age 17, where he acknowledged having much to learn yet already believed he possessed the potential to be the best.

A season of recovery and raw speed

Red Bull’s first year with its own power units built with Ford saw the car start far off the pace, leaving Verstappen winless until the Bahrain Grand Prix in October. That race moved to Sepang after Sakhir was cancelled, marking his first victory of the campaign. He followed it with wins in Singapore and Mexico, climbing to second in the standings, 17 points ahead of Mercedes driver George Russell. The Dutchman described the year as good, noting that victories follow when the team has things reasonably well sorted again. His performance in Brazil demonstrated this resurgence clearly. Starting 21st due to an engine penalty, he climbed to finish second behind Norris. Team principal Laurent Mekies reported that no simulation predicted such a drive, adding that Verstappen is beating the sim on a regular basis. This marked the third straight year he reached the podium from deep on the grid at Interlagos.

The stakes for the remaining races

Verstappen faces three races to hold onto second place in the drivers’ championship. George Russell and Lewis Hamilton are fighting hard behind him for the final top-three spot. Red Bull also battles to keep McLaren behind it in the constructors’ standings for third place. Antonelli had already locked up the drivers’ title, and Mercedes wrapped up the constructors’ championship at Interlagos. Verstappen’s threat to quit if he loses faith in his status as the best driver underscores the intensity of his competitive nature. He admitted that in 2015 he knew he still had a lot to learn but maintained that mindset from the start. The Dutchman’s comments suggest that his continued presence in the sport depends entirely on his belief in his superiority over peers like Norris and Antonelli. With the season nearing its end, his focus shifts to securing the final positions before the curtain falls on another title-less campaign.