Verstappen exit threat triggers warning: 'We cannot afford to lose Max'

The former F1 driver stressed that the sport cannot afford to lose the Red Bull Racing driver, calling on the FIA to “make things better.” The ex-Williams driver, speaking via a gambling platform, noted how Verstappen enhances the spectacle of Formula 1, while casting doubts over a sudden exit for the driver.

“No, we cannot lose Max from Formula 1 because he is the driver who makes the show so much better. F1 needs a driver like Max. They cannot afford to lose him. We know that he decided to stay at Red Bull for one season so he could assess who was best under the new rules,” Patrese noted.

“If he sees that Red Bull can’t give him a competitive car, he will go to another team where he can be in championship contention. At least he did not sign a three- or four-year contract with Red Bull. It’s a frustrating season, but I think before leaving Formula 1, he would like to try to have another competitive car and maybe go for his fifth championship,” he added.

Patrese acknowledged that Verstappen derives immense satisfaction from his career but warned that his strong character could see him step away – something the sport cannot afford.

The Italian hopes the FIA can adjust the current regulations to keep Verstappen happy and maintain competitive balance.

“Max has already said, if I don’t have fun I can go racing elsewhere,” he said. “First of all, let’s see what the FIA puts on the table to make things better. I hope they have the right solutions to make the drivers happy,” he concluded.

Verstappen, along with several other drivers, has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the new regulations. In his most recent assessment, the Dutch driver described them as anti-racing, a sentiment echoed by several others in the paddock.

In another development, former F1 driver Martin Brundle described Verstappen’s exit threat as boring.

The 66-year-old noted that the Dutch driver has often hinted at walking away from the sport, but urged him to stop talking about it and make a decision: go or stop talking about it.

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