Max Verstappen Shares Stunning F1 Retirement Hint

And with a new set of technical regulations being introduced next term, Verstappen has indicated that he would turn his back on F1 if the new cars don't meet his expectations.

"My contract runs until 2028, but it [his future] will depend on the new rules in 2026, and if they are nice and fun," Verstappen told PA ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix.

"If they are not fun, then I don't really see myself hanging around. Winning seven titles is not on my mind. I know that there are three more years after this one, so it could be possible, but it is not something I need to do before I leave the sport.

"I can leave the sport easily tomorrow."

Earlier this year, Verstappen made his GT3 debut, winning his first race alongside Chris Lulham in round nine of the Nürburgring Langstrecken Serie [NLS], driving a Verstappen.com-branded Ferrari.

He has long expressed a desire to enter the Le Mans 24 Hour endurance race, while he and partner Kelly Piquet welcomed the birth of their first daughter together earlier this year.

"I have a lot of other passions; other racing categories, I want to spend more time with the family, and live off my own schedule," Verstappen added. "And in my mind, I know if I close the chapter, it is closed.

"I don't see myself stopping and coming back. Once I stop, I really stop."

Despite a difficult start to the current season, Verstappen enters the penultimate grand prix of the campaign at the Lusail International Circuit with an outside chance of securing a fifth consecutive title, trailing McLaren's Lando Norris by 24 points with two races and a sprint to run.

Norris needs to outscore the Dutchman and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri by two points across the Qatar weekend to secure a maiden drivers' crown.