“Do I Really Want to Continue This Until I’m Like 35?..” Max Verstappen Takes a Subtle Dig at Lewis Hamilton

The young two-time world champion has shared thoughts about his retirement. Max Verstappen, who just won his second title as the world driver’s champion at the Japanese Grand Prix last weekend, claimed that he has set a deadline for his F1 career.

Max Verstappen believes that there is a lot that he wants to achieve. And his desire for achievements isn’t limited to F1 alone. Max said that he wouldn’t want to be someone who is 35 and still racing. This hints at the fact that Max Verstappen may potentially retire by 2032 or earlier.

Max strongly states that the number of titles and championships isn’t his main priority, referencing seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton, who has been openly vocal regarding his desire for the 8th title.

On the subject, Max shared, “It’s not about the number of championships or whatever. It’s also a quality of life.”

“I have a contract until 2028, I’ll be 31, so I do think about if we are heading into this direction with more and more races. Do I really want to continue this until I’m like 35? Probably not.”

“There’s so many more fun things as well I want to do outside of Formula 1 and I don’t want to be traveling almost my whole year being away from family, friends.”

Max further added that he is dedicated and focused and sees himself doing this for at least until the contract ends. However, he’d then like to tally which direction he’d like to go in. He says he loves being home. Staying on the move constantly, away from home, gets a ‘bit painful.’

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Lewis Hamilton, on the other hand, is hyper-focused on getting his next title and wants the undisputed title of the best driver of all time.

Lewis Hamilton had the same vision as Max Verstappen during his early years

Sharing a record with a legend like Michael Schumacher, the seven-time world champ, Lewis Hamilton had once considered retirement prior to 30. However, he feels differently about that now.

Lewis Hamilton shared very similar plans to the Dutch Lion. He claimed he’d walk away from the race life before he hits 30.

Fast forward to today, Hamilton stresses how he wouldn’t leave anytime soon. He claims he wants to ‘drive for Mercedes till the day he dies.’

On the subject of retirement, he said, “I’m thinking about how what are the steps that I need to take to get this team winning again. What is the road map to winning another world championship?”

The Mercedes man said that he still desires these goals and has a lot left in him. And he will continue to push his limits until he feels burned out or has nothing left to give anymore.

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It seems we have a few years to watch the two battle each other out on the track.