Cigarini: “Verstappen to Ferrari? Premature, Max convince him with a winning project”

Max’s retirement intentions At the end of the Japanese Grand Prix, Max Verstappen openly hinted at the possibility of retiring from Formula 1 at the end of the season. Words not thrown there by chance or the result of frustration over a race gone wrong: the Dutch champion seemed more frustrated than ever for a generation of single-seaters far from his concept of ‘racing’.
Many have teased him by saying that Max’s outburst probably came due to the lack of competitiveness of Red Bull 2026, so much so that it pushed dad Jos to silence the critics.
Meanwhile, Mercedes’ Toto Wolff said he was sorry for Verstappen’s frustration, but also closed the doors of the Silver Arrows to the Dutchman, saying he had long-term commitments with Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell and that he was happy with his driver pairing.
asked Francesco Cigarini (present on Instagram and YouTube), at Ferrari for 22 years, if Verstappen could become a next target for the Maranello team. “Verstappen to Ferrari? Premature” Francesco Cigarini, when Max Verstappen talks about possible retirement, is he serious or is he suffering from Red Bull’s lack of competitiveness?
“I think that his outburst is not the result of a whim, but of the loss of those values that shape the driver and that make him feel capable of overcoming his own limits or those of the car. A challenging issue that gives the strength to get on the track to give the best. For now everything is too much delegated to software and the interaction between endothermic and electric. With evolution we will get closer to normality, but for now it is suffering. Then whoever wins or is competitive, enjoys the moment regardless of the regulations. Whoever doesn’t he suffers it and gets depressed.” Considering that Wolff has ruled out wanting him at Mercedes, should Ferrari think about Verstappen? Would you see Max as compatible with the Red?
“To date, with the pair of drivers that Ferrari has – formed by Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton -, thinking about Max is premature. And he would like the certainty of top competitiveness and a winning project. In short, we need to convince him with facts.”