Martin Brundle has insisted Max Verstappen will not be motivated to stay in F1 simply for financial gain, stating he already has “more money than God.”
Despite having a contract in place until the end of the 2028 season, Verstappen has admitted that various changes to the sport could accelerate his exit.
The four-time champion has voiced opposition to the length of the 24-race calendar and the inclusion of sprint races, while more recent criticism has been aimed at the new-for-2026 F1 cars.
At 28 years of age, Verstappen is still far from a typical retirement age for an F1 driver - but Brundle does not see him prolonging his stay into his late 30s.
“He's so easy to read, he's so unfiltered,” Brundle told Sky F1.
“He's like 'I'm not in this for the long haul. I am not around here. I'm not going to start chasing high-water marks in championship tables'.
“He's got more money than God already. So that's not what's going to define it as to whether he's enjoying it or not.
“He loves his GT racing, he loves his sim racing, he loves all sorts of things. So I don't believe he'll be around in a decade.”
Verstappen has long been linked with a move away from Red Bull, rumours that were more prominent during the team's lapse in performance midway through 2025.
Although Brundle has backed the new Red Bull structure with its own power unit to succeed, he stated Verstappen is likely keeping tabs on opportunities that could arise elsewhere.
“I'm sure he's got an exit route should he want one,” he said.
“He'll be keeping an eye on Ferrari. McLaren is locked in with their drivers.
“Mercedes, he'll be keeping an eye on them. He's got the great calling card.
It looks like the Red Bull Ford powertrain is strong, very strong. So I think Max is playing a waiting game.
“Do you know what? I wouldn't want to bet what he might do, whether it's a sabbatical, leave F1, or stick with Red Bull.
“But I think he's in the luxurious position of being a genius talent and with perhaps the whole field available to him as and when he wants it.”
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