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Max Verstappen has threatened to quit Formula 1 at the end of this season if planned changes to engine rules for next year are blocked.
The governing body FIA said two weeks ago that a Agreement was reached For changes in principle that will reduce the need for power management with new engines introduced this year.
But subsequent discussions on the details of the plan have led to opposition and there is currently insufficient support for the move under F1’s governance protocol.
“If it stays like this, it’s going to be longer next year, which I don’t want,” said Verstappen.
“It’s not mentally possible for me to stay like this. Not really.”
Verstappen has confirmed that he will not return if he decides to stop. “There’s a lot more fun stuff out there,” he said.
Drivers have been complaining this year about the way the new engines, a nominal 50-50 split between internal combustion and electric power, have always reduced drivability at the limit.
The engines are power-hungry, requiring maneuvers to recover power even during the qualifying laps.
A change has already been made to address this and the latest plan is to split the power – which is currently about 54-46 – 60-40 in favor of the internal combustion engine.
This will have the effect of further reducing energy management requirements, particularly in qualifying.
