Verstappen advised to 'set aside ego' in light of F1 frustrations.

      "Formula 1 is greater than any individual."

      Ralf Schumacher has advised Max Verstappen to temper his criticisms of the new era in Formula 1, cautioning the Dutch driver to concentrate on his team instead of "complaining" about the regulations. This comes as Verstappen expresses increasing dissatisfaction with the 2026 rules, even suggesting he might contemplate leaving the sport.

      "Max Verstappen should currently focus on his team," Schumacher told Sky Deutschland. "There are teams capable of winning, and he can too. He just needs to collaborate with the team to build a competitive car."

      Schumacher feels that Verstappen's mindset could potentially be counterproductive. "Max is frustrated with the new regulations and the new Formula 1," he stated. "If he were to win now, he still might not particularly enjoy it, but it would make things easier for him, and we'd hear less criticism from him."

      "He needs to set aside his own ego—after all, he’s well compensated—and behave like a team player. That’s what’s crucial right now."

      The former Grand Prix champion also cautioned that Verstappen’s public remarks might create uncertainty within Red Bull. "It’s not fair to their partners, because at some point, those at Red Bull and others will naturally wonder, ‘He’s been saying all along that he’s not interested, yet he’s racing on the Nordschleife and wants to go to Le Mans. Is he still fully committed to getting the car performing?’ Max needs to be cautious."

      Schumacher even remarked that Formula 1 would continue without its star driver if needed. "Formula 1 is bigger than any one of us," he said. "While I would regret seeing him leave because I think highly of him, if Max Verstappen decided to retire, it would be business as usual."

      "If he no longer wants to compete in Formula 1, he must stick to that choice, and then the team can seek a new driver."

      Despite this straightforward evaluation, Schumacher does not expect Verstappen to exit the sport anytime soon. "Being in Formula 1 is an exceptional experience," he added. "Sure, he might say, ‘I’m tired of this,’ but finding a suitable alternative is another matter. A GT car, as appealing as it may seem, is quite different—at 1.4 tons, regardless of the battery power, it’s an entirely different game. Plus, there's the global travel and competing against the world's best drivers. I can’t envision Max giving that up so easily."