A sabbatical for Verstappen? 'If I were him, I would not conisder it all all'
16:18, 29 Apr
Updated: 18:11, 29 Apr
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Former Ferrari engineer Luigi Mazzola has voiced strong opposition to the idea of Max Verstappen taking a sabbatical from Formula 1. Speaking in response to reports from The Daily Mail, which suggested the Dutchman might consider sitting out the 2026 season and returning in 2027, Mazzola made it clear he sees that as a mistake. Having worked at Ferrari from 1988 to 2009, Mazzola emphasized that stepping away from the sport—even temporarily—would not be the right decision for the four-time world champion.
In recent weeks, Verstappen has been once again linked to a move to Aston Martin. In response to these rumours, the Italian stated: “If Newey has gone to Aston Martin, I think it means he knew the Power Unit [of 2026] would work,” he began. “This means that Verstappen also knows very well what will happen at Aston Martin. Maybe he even knows what's going to happen at Mercedes, because, in my opinion, Toto Wolff is keeping a close eye on the situation. I think Max is experiencing the situation from a privileged position – which is also justified.”
A Verstappen sabbatical 'should not be considered'
Last week, speculation arose suggesting that Max Verstappen might consider taking a sabbatical from Formula 1—potentially sitting out the 2026 season.
“A Sabbatical year? If I were him, I wouldn't consider it at all. And if I then saw an offer of 300 million, I would smile like anyone would. I don't think he'll stay put because he will quickly know which team will be winning,” concluded the former Ferrari engineer.
The Dutchman currently sits third in the drivers standings on 87 points, 2 points behind second-placed Lando Norris and 12 behind championship leader Oscar Piastri. The Dutchman is still within reach of the top spot after just five rounds, and he'll be hoping for a positive race weekend in the upcoming Miami Grand Prix.
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This article was written in collaboration with Esteban den Toom
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