Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Former Formula 1 driver Derek Daly has suggested that Max Verstappen could become a “trailblazer” by walking away from the sport at a relatively young age amid concerns over the 2026 regulations.
Verstappen has been openly critical of the new-generation 2026 cars, which feature sweeping changes to both power units and aerodynamics. The four-time world champion labelled the new machinery “anti-racing” and compared it to “Formula E on steroids,” making clear that his long-term future in Formula 1 will depend on whether he continues to enjoy driving under the revised technical framework.
Daly believes that modern Formula 1 conditions make early retirement more plausible than in previous eras, particularly given the intensity of the calendar and the financial landscape.
“In this day and age, it's more likely than it ever was in the years past,” Daly explained.
“They start younger, so they leave younger. They make more money younger than they did in the years past.”
“With 24 races, it's more of a grind on your family and you physically and personally than it ever was before.”
According to Daly, the age at which drivers choose to step away from F1 could begin to decrease, with Verstappen potentially leading that shift.
“I have no doubt the walk-away age will probably begin to come down. Maybe Max Verstappen, as he's done in the past, is a trailblazer in making decisions like that.”
Despite that assessment, Daly expressed hope that Verstappen will remain in the sport for several more years, describing him as a rare natural talent.
“I hope the regulations don't drive him away from the sport too early.”
“He is, what I call, a gifted, natural racer.”
With the 2026 season set to begin at the Australian Grand Prix, Daly also questioned whether the new regulations could favour a different driver profile — one defined less by outright reflex speed and more by cognitive capacity to manage complex energy systems.
“I wonder are we in a position now with these regulations where you have a driver who may not be as fast as a Max Verstappen, but has the brain capacity to multitask at a higher level than other drivers, and that gives him an advantage.”
Drawing a comparison to football, Daly contrasted instinctive talent with strategic intelligence, referencing former world champion Nico Rosberg as an example of a driver often described as engineer-minded.
“Nico Rosberg was always known [as a thinker]. Frank Williams called him an engineer when he went to him first, because he could talk like engineers, act like engineers, think like engineers.”
Daly questioned whether the 2026 era could reward “engineering-based drivers” capable of mastering harvesting and deployment strategies at a higher level than purely instinct-driven racers.
“I don’t want to see that. I want to see the gifted, fastest drivers in the world ultimately end up being able to race like that.”
As Formula 1 enters its most complex technical era in years, the balance between natural racing instinct and energy-management intelligence could shape not only championship outcomes — but potentially career longevity for its leading stars.
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