Wolff raises concern over Verstappen future as F1 faces major threat

What once seemed unthinkable is now being discussed more openly, with conversations gaining momentum after Verstappen hinted, following the Japanese Grand Prix, that he could decide on his future in the coming weeks.

Asked about the scenario, Wolff insisted the sport cannot afford to lose one of its biggest stars. Speaking to Sky Germany, the Mercedes team principal highlighted Verstappen’s emotional nature while also expressing his belief that the four-time world champion will ultimately remain in F1.

“Of course, Max is a human being with emotions, and the most important thing for him is to enjoy racing. I think there’s a good chance he’s not able to do that right now,” Wolff explained.

“For F1 as a whole, it would definitely be better not to lose Max. As I’ve already said, our driver structure is clear. We have no intention of changing it,” he added.

Verstappen’s frustration with the current regulations has been central to discussions about a possible exit from F1. The Dutch driver has described the current regulations as anti-racing. This criticism also followed shortly after he had described them as feeling like Formula E on steroids.

Earlier, former F1 driver Riccardo Patrese called on the FIA to make tweaks to the current F1 regulations to avoid a scenario in which Verstappen retires.

The six-time Grand Prix winner acknowledged that the Red Bull driver is the biggest star of the sport and that his sudden exit could have a wider impact across the entire Formula 1 paddock.

Patrese, however, noted that he expects Verstappen to continue racing in F1, despite his dislike of the current regulations.

Want to stay up to date with the latest events from the F1 paddock? GPblog’s Paddock Update is the place to be.

Follow and subscribe to our channels on Spotify and YouTube so you don’t miss a scoop as the actions and reactions continue across the Formula 1 scene.

Check out the latest episode of our Paddock Update here 👇