F1 has a Max Verstappen decision to make

If Formula 1 doesn't do something to refine these regulations, the 2026 season could be Max Verstappen's last appearance in the sport.

Although the 28-year-old has long insisted he doesn't plan to spend his entire racing career in F1, the end seems even closer after his comments Sunday in Japan, where he questioned whether returning in 2027 was worthwhile.

But Verstappen's retirement may ultimately not be his decision alone, as it seems the governing bodies above him will help him choose.

When discussing whether the FIA and F1 changing the regulations could impact his future, the four-time world champion replied, "They know what to do."

With a rule set geared toward attracting new manufacturers amid the rise in electrification, Verstappen appears to be trying to tip the balance back in favor of the driver.

At the moment, there's little enticing him to stay.

Verstappen had another difficult Sunday, finishing eighth and stuck behind Alpine's Pierre Gasly for most of the race. He now sits ninth in the drivers' standings and has collected only 12 points, making this his worst start after three events since he was a 17-year-old rookie in a Toro Rosso in 2015.

While this marks his first three-race run without a top-five finish since 2017, Verstappen's criticism of the new rules has grown more frequent. And though his latest comments weren't his best zingers - like comparing the new cars to Mario Kart or Formula E on steroids - he still described the machinery as "anti-driving" and "not what I want to do."

Thankfully for Verstappen, if the new rules push him out of F1, there's still plenty of driving elsewhere.

He used his weekend off between the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix to complete a four-hour race at the Nurburgring in a Mercedes-AMG GT3. He handily delivered the pole and won the race before his team was eventually disqualified for using an extra set of tires. Still, it wasn't hard to notice that Verstappen seemed to have more fun at the Nurburgring than at any F1 event this year. The Dutch driver is also gearing up for the Nurburgring 24 Hours in May, a race he said is on his "bucket list."

Verstappen has pretty much won everything there is in F1, and he's always maintained that winning one title was his dream, with everything else a bonus. His motivation isn't to break records. He just wants to drive the best cars that motorsports have to offer.

That isn't F1 right now.

The 35-day gap between Suzuka and the next race in Miami will be pivotal in shaping F1's future, as the FIA plans to meet in April to assess whether any changes to the regulations are necessary.

The series will survive without Verstappen and has weathered worse storms. But Verstappen can survive without F1, too, and pushing out one of the biggest talents ever - a driver any motorsport series would beg to have - feels shortsighted compared to confronting the issues that Verstappen and others have vocalized.

Both sides will endure, but one will suffer a bigger blow in the eyes of the public - and it won't be Verstappen.

The same decision-makers who helped pen the regulations will now be asked if they wish to write Verstappen's retirement notice with the same ink. It would be a shame if that's how Verstappen's F1 story ends.

Daniel Valente is theScore's lead Formula 1 writer. Daniel has covered the sport for multiple years, conducting analysis and interviewing key figures inside the paddock. His expertise is breaking down data and discovering unique stats. Follow Daniel on X at @F1GuyDan.