Sep.13 (GMM) Max Verstappen says Fernando Alonso should not be persuaded into extending his Formula 1 career, as the Spaniard continues to blame the current regulations for making him consider walking away.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has openly said he wants to convince the 45-year-old to stay, but Verstappen believes the decision belongs entirely to Alonso.
“In the end, he has to decide for himself,” he said in Madrid.
“No one has to persuade him. Of course I like to see him go on, but it’s also a question of whether you can be competitive and if you like it.”
Verstappen said if Alonso continues to remain frustrated, staying would ultimately be the wrong move for the two-time champion.
“If it’s just annoyance, it’s not doable at some point,” said the Dutchman.
“It’s not gonna be a lot of fun. Because he is world champion, he can decide for himself when he will stop.”
Alonso’s frustration was again obvious in Madrid, where he argued that the battery-heavy 2026 cars remove too much driver influence even at spectacular corners such as La Monumental.
“It’s sad, in a way, with this generation of cars, to arrive at such a beautiful circuit as this, with challenges here and there, like the La Monumental corner,” said Aston Martin.
He amusingly used his press officer Michael Clayton as an example.
“It can’t be that Michael is faster than Max Verstappen just because he has more battery,” said Alonso.
“Because turns 10, 11 and 12 are so incredible that Verstappen should be able to make a difference there compared to Michael. And at the moment, that’s not the case.”
Alonso says he is speaking regularly with both Ben Sulayem and Stefano Domenicali because he believes F1 cannot simply wait for a major rules reset.
“We cannot wait until 2031 to have a sport at the appropriate level,” he said.
Verstappen, though, is sceptical that the scheduled rule changes for 2027 will be enough to transform Alonso’s negative experience.
“Well, I don’t know. I don’t think much will change,” he said.
Join Grand Prix Tours in Austin, Texas for the high-energy 2026 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Experience nonstop action on one of Formula 1’s most exciting tracks, featuring dramatic elevation changes, thrilling overtakes, and a packed race weekend. Off the track, enjoy a festival atmosphere with live music, world-famous BBQ, and buzzing nightlife. Your Grand Prix Tours package includes a fully curated race weekend, highlighted by exclusive access to our private F1 Celebrity Talk Show, where guests gain insider insights and behind-the-scenes perspectives. With demand soaring and this event quickly becoming a modern American racing tradition, now is the time to secure your spot for an unforgettable Austin Grand Prix experience.
SHOW PACKAGES
There are motorsport events, and then there is the Indianapolis 500, the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Next year marks Grand Prix Tours' 42nd Indianapolis 500 tour and our decades of experience and local connections provide exclusive access that few fans ever enjoy, including police escorts on race day, a Dallara IndyCar Factory tour, Gasoline Alley and Legends Day, the Driver Introduction Ceremony, and a private dinner with former Indy driver Derek Daly. Combined with excellent hotel accommodations, seamless event planning, and Grand Prix Tours' signature service, this is far more than a race weekend; it's a once-in-a-lifetime motorsport experience. With tour spaces limited each year, we encourage you to reserve your place early for the 111th Indianapolis 500.
SHOW PACKAGES
Experience Formula 1 at its most iconic with an unforgettable trip to the 2027 Grand Prix de Monaco. Feel the excitement as the world’s best drivers race through the legendary streets of Monte Carlo, surrounded by superyachts, Mediterranean views, and the unmistakable glamour of Monaco. From incredible race viewing to carefully selected accommodations, Grand Prix Tours brings you closer to the action at one of the most prestigious and spectacular events in all of motorsport.
SHOW PACKAGES
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the ultimate test of speed, strategy, and endurance. Watch the world's top manufacturers battle for 24 nonstop hours in one of motorsport's most prestigious events. With Grand Prix Tours handling your accommodations, transfers, and ticket options, all that's left is to experience this unforgettable bucket-list race.
SHOW PACKAGES
Feel the roar of Formula 1 at its spiritual home. Silverstone is one of the fastest and most demanding circuits in the world, where brave overtakes, lightning-fast direction changes, and flat-out commitment separate the best from the rest. Combined with the electric atmosphere created by hundreds of thousands of passionate fans, the British Grand Prix delivers a race weekend unlike any other.
SHOW PACKAGES