One of the biggest open secrets in the Formula 1 paddock is Max Verstappen’s desire not to be a Formula 1 driver forever.
Max Verstappen has already achieved more than nearly every driver ever to step foot in an F1 car.
His tally of four Drivers’ Championships has only been surpassed by three drivers – Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton and Juan Manuel Fangio.
Schumacher retired in his early 40s, Fangio remarkably raced in F1 until he was 47 and Hamilton has just started life as a Ferrari driver on the eve of entering his fifth decade.
If everything went perfectly for Verstappen, he could surpass all of their championship tallies by the time he’s 31 and then call it a day.
It would line up well with the end of his Red Bull contract too, as Verstappen’s deal expires at the end of 2028.
However, if the team’s cars aren’t up to scratch, Verstappen could choose to leave the Red Bull and race elsewhere in F1 or move on altogether.
Aston Martin would love to sign Verstappen – as would Toto Wolff at Mercedes – but the 27-year-old’s ambitions extend far beyond Formula 1.
Verstappen’s Red Bull colleague Yuki Tsunoda was speaking to Formula Passion about the Dutchman’s future.
He suggested that while he may talk about leaving the sport sooner rather than later, he thinks he’ll be around for longer than many suggest.
Yuki Tsunoda thinks Max Verstappen will retire from racing when he’s 40
Tsunoda has had a difficult few weeks after missing out on being promoted to join Verstappen at Red Bull for 2025.
Red Bull were impressed with Tsunoda during his post-season test, but instead opted to hand Liam Lawson a chance, despite the Japanese driver outperforming Lawson, Daniel Ricciardo and Nyck de Vries in recent years.
He was asked about Verstappen’s potential longevity in the sport and said: “We’ll see how it goes, but in my opinion, Max will eventually race until he is 40.”
READ MORE: Visa Cash App RB driver Yuki Tsunoda’s life outside F1 from height to parents
The Japanese driver then comments on his own future and admits: “Japanese people age very well, at least on an aesthetic level.
“Maybe I’ll still look 25 at that age! I could see myself in Formula 1 at 40.”
How Yuki Tsunoda feels about missing out on becoming Max Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate
One conundrum that Red Bull would like to push as hard down the line as possible is Verstappen’s eventual exit from F1.
At the moment, there isn’t a driver who stands out within their ranks to take over as a clear number one at Red Bull, although many people will be keen to see just how quickly Lawson adapts to racing alongside him.
Tsunoda insists he’s up to the task despite being overlooked again and said: “I am confident that I could impress, I could do things that they do not expect.
READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend
“I am not worried about how I could keep up with Max, but more about how I can show my potential.
“I am confident that Max and I could battle it out. I know that many do not believe it, but in my heart, I feel that I could. This is why I will continue to prove people wrong, as I have done in recent seasons”.
Tsunoda is expected to leave Racing Bulls at the end of 2025 when Honda’s partnership with the team ends.
It makes his fifth season in F1 even more important as he now has to impress other teams in the paddock enough to offer him a contract during a season where little movement is expected in the driver’s market.
Aston Martin could consider signing Tsunoda as a reserve driver and there will be two vacant spots at the new Cadillac F1 project.
Whether either of those options appeals to the 24-year-old is yet to be seen.
