The four-time world champion is under contract with Red Bull until the end of the 2028 season, but has consistently indicated that he does not plan to remain in Formula 1 deep into his thirties.
Verstappen has openly spoken about his desire to explore other forms of racing, particularly endurance racing, once he stepped away from grand prix competition.
While speculation often surrounded the idea of former champions returning as team principals or senior advisors, Verstappen ruled out that possibility. He explained that, although he enjoyed racing in Formula 1, his interests lay elsewhere once his time as a driver was over.
Speaking on TAG Heuer’s On the Racetrack, Verstappen said his passion extended beyond his own career and focused on creating opportunities for others. “Racing. But not racing – not even necessarily myself,” he explained. “One of my goals is to bring a simulated driver into the real world.”
That ambition had already begun to take shape. Verstappen confirmed that a driver from his simulator programme had made the transition to real-world racing and was performing strongly. “That happened this year already, and he’s doing very well,” he said. “I just want to try to grow that project naturally, because that is definitely something that I enjoy a lot.”
Looking further ahead, Verstappen stressed that his future involvement in motorsport would be away from Formula 1. “While I like being in F1 as a driver, I don’t think I would ever come back to F1 in a management role,” he said. “In a different kind of category, more like endurance racing, I do see that happening.”
He added that his long-term goal was to help talented young drivers who lacked financial backing. Verstappen believed simulator racing could offer a genuine pathway into professional motorsport, opening doors that were previously closed to many aspiring racers.
