Closer to retiring than changing teams - why Verstappen stayed at Red Bull

The news conference that followed the announcement of Max Verstappen extending his contract at Red Bull until the end of 2030 was approaching its final moments when a light-hearted remark got to the crux of his decision.

"I was closer to retiring than changing teams," Verstappen said.

The four-time champion has been facing existential questions this year about his future in Formula 1.

The first was triggered by the new engine regulations introduced this year - did he even want to continue racing in this form of motorsport?

The second followed on - if so, did he want to stay at the team that has been his home since the start of his journey at the top level of the sport?

The announcement that Verstappen had added two further years to a contract that already lasted until the end of 2028 has put both questions to bed, to a degree. But the first more than the second.

Three races into this season, after the Japanese Grand Prix, the frustrations of driving the new hybrid engines of this year boiled over in Verstappen.

The need to constantly recover energy to power the batteries, the impossibility of doing so to the extent that they are fully charged at all times, and the artificiality that had been introduced into the racing as a consequence, were too much for the Dutchman after a race at Suzuka, arguably the greatest circuit on the calendar.