Wolff expresses hope that Verstappen will remain, as the Dutch driver contemplates his future.

      Toto Wolff has expressed his hope that Max Verstappen won't leave Formula 1, as there are increasing indications that the Dutch driver is losing his motivation. The four-time world champion appeared notably downcast after qualifying at Suzuka, where both Red Bull's challenges and Verstappen's frustrations with the 2026 regulations seem to be escalating.

      "I’m not even frustrated anymore. I have surpassed that," Verstappen stated. "I can’t find the right word to describe it in English. I can't even find it in Dutch. There is simply no word. I have a lot of personal matters to sort out."

      When asked for clarification, Verstappen gave a revealing answer: "Life ... life here."

      These remarks come as Verstappen deals with two significant concerns - his discontent with the energy-intensive new regulations and a Red Bull car that is struggling to compete. Mercedes team principal Wolff, in an interview with Sky Deutschland, acknowledged the situation's validity. "Max is undoubtedly an emotional person. His primary focus is the enjoyment of driving, and I can easily see that he might not feel that way right now. It would be unfortunate if we lost Max from Formula 1 entirely. However, we are content with our two drivers and have no plans to make changes."

      Verstappen also suggested that his future might hinge on how the sport develops. "Much depends on what they decide for next year," he explained. "When I’m in the car, I want to give my all, but in the current Formula 1, I cannot do that, and I'm not enjoying it. Being away from home for so long, you hope to at least find pleasure in what you do."

      While he continues to seek enjoyment in GT racing, Verstappen implied that this may not suffice in the long run. "Yes, I will attempt to find joy in racing through other avenues," he confirmed, indicating that he plans to return to the Nordschleife before the next grand prix in Miami. "But eventually, even that may not be enough."

      Verstappen also commented on the media incident at Suzuka, justifying his choice to remove a journalist from his press conference. "If you don’t show me respect, why should I show you any?" he remarked. "I have been in Formula 1 long enough to recognize who has good intentions and who doesn’t. If you mock me like that, it’s clear you don’t have good intentions."

      With Red Bull facing difficulties and the regulations creating division among opinions, Verstappen cautioned that the season could drag on without any improvements. "I hope the month-long break before Miami will lead to changes. If things keep going like this, the season will be very long given the problems we're facing."