Ex-F1 champion makes bold ‘sabbatical’ claim over Max Verstappen’s future amid Red Bull struggles
Damon Hill believes that Max Verstappen might consider briefly leaving Formula 1 after the end of 2025.
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Damon Hill (via IMAGO), Max Verstappen (via Red Bull)
Max Verstappen’s future at Red Bull and ultimately in Formula 1 continues to remain uncertain. The Dutchman was rumored to leave Milton Keynes due to the declining performances of the team. Moreover, Verstappen has also become a dad to a lovely daughter recently, which might make him consider at least a sabbatical if not a complete exit from the pinnacle of motorsport. Amidst these rumors, ex-F1 champion Damon Hill has put forth his opinions on the 27-year-old’s potential exit from the sport.
Max Verstappen has already clarified that he achieved everything he wanted from Formula 1 after winning a couple of drivers’ titles. Now, the Dutchman is in the sport for the fun of it. Red Bull’s struggles have caused Verstappen to lose massive ground on the track against the rivals, and are seemingly unable to compete for the race wins. Also, with the regulation changes in 2026 looking uncertain for a majority of the teams, the four-time champion might take a sabbatical and rejoin the sport after witnessing the situation.
Damon Hill reckons that Max Verstappen has achieved a substantial number of drivers’ titles and race wins in Formula 1 over his career. Hence, he could even sit back and year or two off after the 2025 season and enjoy some time off for himself and his family. Hill pointed out that Verstappen could potentially sit back the next year and see which team had the potential to dominate the new regulations for a handful of years. Moreover, with the Dutchman’s pedigree, many teams would be more than happy to provide him with a seat despite a break in between.
He has won four world championships, he’s won god knows how many races, he could sit back this new regulation. Nobody knows what’s on the other side of the end of this season, what is going to happen. He could sit back next year and go, ‘Okay, I can see which way the future’s going to go for the next 10 years’.
Damon Hill said on the Chequered Flag podcast
Hill seriously believes that this is a feasible option for Max Verstappen if Red Bull’s performance does not improve at all. Milton Keynes suffered from a massive downfall in performance despite dominating a majority of the ground-effect era. Hence, the team must seriously put forth some benefits and improvements to convince Verstappen to stay beyond the 2025 season. The Briton believes that the four-time world champion has no obligation to continue racing for the Austrian constructor if they do not work on bridging the gap in performance to their rivals.
I’m saying it’s an option. If it’s unclear, and if Red Bull have not convinced him that they have the wherewithal to keep up the level of performance that he’s been used to, then why would he race for a team that’s not competitive? He doesn’t have to.
Damon Hill added
Damon Hill believes Max Verstappen would ‘slot straight back in’ after sabbatical
Max Verstappen’s performances have proved that he is a generational talent and one of the greatest drivers in Formula 1. The Dutchman suffered from extreme struggles and still kept up with performances. The 27-year-old is a highly beneficial asset to any team as his experience and expertise could help any constructor receive a massive boost in results. Hence, Hill believes that even if the four-time champion were to take a break, he would not forget his ways of dominating the grid under any conditions.
Damon Hill pointed out that Max Verstappen is young enough to make such a big decision over his future in Formula 1. The 64-year-old still acknowledged that it wouldn’t be an easy task to take a break from the sport and come back like they never left. Still, someone with Verstappen’s skills had the ability to make a comeback after many years and have no difference in performance. The Dutchman would slot straight back into the grid again and start competing for race wins after taking a sabbatical of a couple of years.
He’s young enough, I think, to take it. It’s hard in this game, but someone like of his ability, he could take a year out and it would be like, no time has passed. He’d slot straight back in again.
Damon Hill noted
Verstappen has proved his racing mettle on the grid time and again and continues to do so despite facing so many problems with Red Bull. The Dutchman has declared his loyalty to Milton Keynes on multiple occasions and is unlikely to quit the team earlier than his contract runs out. Still, the 27-year-old continues to receive highly lucrative offers from multiple teams that he would start considering if the Austrian constructor doesn’t recover from their massive performance slump.
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