Carlos Sainz has said he does not understand why other Formula 1 drivers would turn their nose up at the prospect of competing in Formula 1 for as long as possible. Max Verstappen is the most high-profile case of a driver who has shown ambivalence about extending his F1 career, having come into the sport at a very young age.
Verstappen was just 17 when he made his F1 debut and first won a race at 18. More than a decade on, the Dutchman is a four-time world champion. But even a couple of years ago he was making noises about not being in the sport for much longer, declaring that he will not follow in the footsteps of Lewis Hamilton and keep racing in the sport into his 40s.
Verstappen's retirement thoughts
Verstappen also said that the Red Bull deal he signed in early 2022, just after winning his first title, may have been his last in F1. He has since proven that wrong, penning an extension last week which added two more years onto his Red Bull deal's end date, which now runs to 2030. Still, even by then, he will only be 33.
And, speaking after that extension was confirmed, Verstappen admitted he had given plenty of thought to walking away from F1 this year, telling reporters: "I was closer to retiring than changing teams." He may consider quitting the sport again if the changes he wants made to the formula do not make the cars better to drive.
Sainz's long-term plan
Sainz is another who has been critical of these 2026 regulations and the cars they have produced. That said, he has made it clear he will still be racing in F1 for as long as he has a place on the grid.
"I think I'll stay in Formula 1 for as long as I can. I don't understand people who say, 'no'," he told Autosport. "It's strange, because my theory is that at 40 you're not even halfway through your life, and I ask myself what I'm going to do in the second half of it. I enjoy playing golf, cycling, playing padel and challenging myself with business activities, but even if I put all of those things together, they still don't give me the same enjoyment I get from being where I am today."
"I'm aware of how fortunate I am to be part of this sport. It's true that 24 races [per year] are a lot and that there are many other commitments around them, but when I go to bed at night, I remind myself that I wouldn't trade all of this for anything in the world."
Hamilton and Alonso as examples
Sainz, 31, has also been in F1 for more than a decade, but pointed to Hamilton and Fernando Alonso as evidence that he may only yet be around the half-way point of his time in the sport. He said: "Looking at what Fernando and Lewis are still capable of doing, and also Nico [Hulkenberg] who is a few years older than me, it confirms to me that you can maintain a very high level of driving for a long time."
"I'm fortunate to be in a sport that allows you to remain at this level for many years. I also have an example in my own family: My father, Carlos, isn't in Formula 1, but at 63 he's still competitive, and two years ago he won the Dakar [Rally]."
"If you look after your physical condition and maintain strong motivation, you can extend your career for a long time. You need to be in a good place mentally, because you also have to factor in all the travelling, as well as the marketing and media commitments. Putting those aspects aside, I think you can keep going until you're 45."
