Verstappen sends clear message after persistent rumours of early retirement

All of 2024 has been a coming and going of rumours about Max Verstappen's future. Although the Dutchman is clear about his future in F1, rumours about an early departure from Formula 1 for Max have been coming out time and again. This time, Kelly Piquet and Max Verstappen's announcement that a child is on the way was seized upon to bring these rumours.

With a baby on the way, Verstappen might choose to take a gap year in order to be there for his child, some said. For this, old statements by Verstappen were brought up, in which Verstappen indicated that he did not want to stay in F1 forever to watch his children grow up as well. This really does not mean that Verstappen will stop F1 already at the birth of his child.

Why Verstappen will continue to race in F1

''No, I never considered taking a year out, to be honest,'' Verstappen revealed to GPblog and others after qualifying. According to Verstappen, little will change anyway. After all, with Penelope, the daughter of Kelly Piquet and Daniil Kvyat, Verstappen already has a child at home that he cares for.

''I've done it already a bit. It's not like it's completely new to me, so of course now it's my DNA, but I think it's absolutely fine. I know that the baby will be in good hands when I'm away. So I can focus on racing and then you go back to your family, it's how it goes,'' Verstappen said.

Verstappen will also continue sim racing: ''I will keep up my hobbies, but naturally of course, sometimes a little bit less time for certain things. ''