Max Verstappen says that in the wake of his challenging Formula 1 season, he is finding it hard to stay motivated due to an increasing level of frustration, calling his mental state “not very healthy.”
The four-time world champion stated that even though he used to find a lot of enjoyment from a variety of parts of racing and has simply “pushed himself to be 100%,” he is not able to do so anymore as a result of the new rules and regulations introduced into the sport.
In a conversation with BBC Sport, the 28-year-old Verstappen explained how the situation extends beyond just the results he has been achieving, and even though he continues to be grateful to have a strong relationship with Red Bull Racing, he has had difficulty enjoying driving the car.
“I want to be here to have fun, have a great time and enjoy myself,” Verstappen said. “At the moment, that’s not really the case.”
Max Verstappen’s Struggles on and off the track
Max Verstappen’s comments come during a challenging start to the season, with the Dutch driver sitting ninth in the standings after the opening rounds.
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Red Bull’s new RB22 has proved difficult to handle, while the team’s power unit project, developed in partnership with Ford Motor Company, remains in its early stages.
Despite the performance issues, Verstappen insisted his concerns are not solely linked to results.
“I’m trying. I keep telling myself every day to try to enjoy it. It’s just very hard,” he said.
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Max Verstappen added that forcing himself to maintain maximum effort without that enjoyment is beginning to take a toll.
“The way that I am telling myself to give it 100%, I think, is not very healthy at the moment because I am not enjoying what I’m doing.”
The situation has also revived discussion around his long-term future in Formula 1.
Max Verstappen has previously downplayed the idea of an early exit, but recent comments suggest he is now more open to the possibility if the current trajectory continues.
He rejected the idea that his frustration is simply a reaction to a less competitive car, arguing that his perspective is rooted in the overall experience of the sport rather than short-term performance.
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