Jos is concerned that his son Max might 'lose motivation' due to the new regulations.

      Jos Verstappen has expressed concerns that his son Max might lose motivation in Formula 1 due to the current regulations. The Dutchman, in interviews with De Telegraaf and De Limburger, reflected his son's increasing dissatisfaction with the 2026 cars and cautioned about potential long-term effects. "Driving these cars isn’t challenging for him," Jos remarked. "Honestly, I fear Max will lose his drive. Racing in a Formula 1 car used to be the most thrilling experience for him, but now I feel quite pessimistic."

      He mentioned that even watching the races has become a struggle. "A couple of weeks ago, I woke up in the middle of the night to catch the practice sessions in China, but after 15 minutes, I turned off the TV and went back to sleep. I've never done that with Formula 1 before. I suppose that speaks volumes."

      Jos highlighted the significant emphasis on energy management as the central problem, claiming it detracts from the true essence of racing. "As a driver, one should be rewarded for their bravery and skills. Now, if you take a corner as quickly as possible, you'll end up doing a slower lap. That steals the entire racing experience. They are merely managing the battery. This makes it difficult for a driver like Max to stand out. That’s not what racing is about."

      He contrasted this with Verstappen’s recent performances in GT3, where the Red Bull driver seemed much more comfortable. "Max enjoyed that experience. You can see and feel it in everything," he said regarding the Nordschleife races. "While racing in a GT3 car, he doesn’t have to worry about constantly charging his battery and can rely more on his instincts."

      Jos also responded to critics who have dismissed Verstappen’s dissatisfaction as merely performance-related. "Max’s feelings in the car have nothing to do with performance," he stated. "He is simply providing an honest response to the questions he receives."

      These remarks come amid growing speculation about Verstappen's future, with former driver Juan Pablo Montoya suggesting that Red Bull may face challenges in retaining him long-term. "I believe conversations (with Mercedes) have already begun," he told AS Colombia. "I think the discussions never really stopped last year. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the case. The likelihood that Max will still be racing for Red Bull next year is very slim."