Damon Hill says Max Verstappen’s retirement talk is unlikely to change FIA regulations and that the driver might benefit more from a break than from threatening to quit.
The 1996 world champion told the BBC he doubts exit threats will persuade the FIA or Formula 1 to rewrite the rulebook. Hill called using retirement as leverage a tactic that “won’t work.” He said the sport’s rule-making has its own process and is not set by a single driver’s demands.
Verstappen has been openly critical of this season’s new technical regulations. He recently, for the first time, questioned his future in Formula 1 in public. His campaign has also included a poor result in Japan. Hill said the comments sound less like a political move and more like a sign the Dutch driver may not be enjoying racing as he used to.
“He doesn’t have to stay if he’s unhappy,” Hill said, noting Verstappen has earned substantial money and is a new father. He suggested that time away might be healthier than pushing to change rules. Hill framed the choice as a personal decision about happiness and family life, not a negotiation with officials.
Verstappen has said F1 is “not enjoyable at the moment.” He also said he hopes to decide on his future “in the coming weeks and months.” Hill read that timeline as a window for reflection. In his view, a pause could help Verstappen reset without trying to force a response from the FIA or Formula 1.
Hill’s stance highlights the gap between sporting governance and driver sentiment. Technical regulations are agreed through formal channels that involve the FIA, teams, and Formula 1. Those processes move on set timelines. Hill’s point is that expressing frustration, or hinting at retirement, will not short-circuit that system.
For Hill, the better path for Verstappen is to step back if racing has become less enjoyable. He said the Dutchman has the means to make that call and the life changes that might support it. That approach, Hill argued, would avoid a standoff over regulations that are unlikely to change because one driver is unhappy.
Verstappen has not set a firm date for a decision. He said he will weigh his future over the coming weeks and months. Hill expects the rules to stand either way, and he believes a break, not brinkmanship, offers the clearer route for a driver who says the fun has gone.