Max Verstappen has opened up about his approach to Formula 1 and his plans after he eventually retires from the sport.
Speaking on Red Bull Racing’s Talking Bull podcast after the 2025 season, Verstappen described his relaxed relationship with his career, stating that others take life “too seriously”.
“It is super important to be successful, to do a good job,” he said. “At the end of the day, you do that to what? Maybe 40 [years old]? That’s not even the average, right?
“There’s only some extraordinary drivers that stay in it a little bit longer. But after that, you still have a lot of years to enjoy or do something else in your life.”
The four-time world champion admitted that since winning his first title in 2021, his other successes have merely served as bonus achievements. He also suggested that he has no intention of trying to beat the current record of seven World Drivers’ Championships jointly held by Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher.
“Honestly, it doesn’t really matter what you have done. When I’m going to be 50 years old, 60 years old, do you think I’ll care if I’ve won four or seven? I mean, what is that going to matter to my life?
“You know, I’m still going to order the same drink. I’m still going to eat the same food.
“It’s not going to change what I’m going to do after in my life. So that’s why I try to just look at it a lot more in a relaxed way. Just don’t stress about it.”
He went on to joke: “Stress is very bad for you, and you’re going to die sooner if you have a lot of stress. So I’m going to be 250 years old.”
Verstappen: “I don’t try to be a fake person”
Verstappen is known for his candid responses to the media during Formula 1 race weekends, which can sometimes contrast with the more diplomatic approaches of other drivers.
When asked about his demeanour, the Dutchman explained: “It works for me. It’s how I want to be. I don’t try to be a fake person in the paddock or whatever. That’s just not how I am. And especially, of course, in F1, when you have a lot of success or in general you’re doing well, it’s easy to forget about that.
“But that’s why it’s very important to have always the most important people around you that actually do tell you if you’re acting a bit out or weird. And I am very lucky that, of course, I have great family, but also really good friends.”
