Former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports analyst Martin Brundle has argued that while Max Verstappen's exit from the championship would be a huge loss, F1 would "move on".
The four-time champion has hinted that he could retire from F1 earlier than expected after failing to enjoy the new regulations. He is under contract with Red Bull until the end of 2028, but could activate a performance clause in his contract to leave earlier.
While discussing Verstappen's latest threats to retire on the Sky Sports F1 Show, Brundle claimed that the comments from the Dutchman were "getting a bit boring" and that he should "either go or stop talking about it".
"Max is very unfiltered, isn't he? He always has been. And he's talked a lot for a long time about 'I'm not in this for the long haul. I'm not going to be hanging around here in my 40s' or whatever," Brundle said.
"Max would say it's getting a bit boring now. I think it's getting a bit boring with what he's saying. Either go or stop talking about it, because it is what it is.
"You've got to make the most of it. I would hugely miss his talent, his generational speed, and his car control is something that very few people in the history of motorsport have had. It is quite extraordinary."
As Red Bull developed its own powertrains in collaboration with Ford for the new era of regulations, Brundle argued that it is likely that Verstappen's management would have had an exit clause written into his contract to protect him if this wasn't a success.
"And I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that, given they were building their own powertrain for the first time, his management would have put in an exit clause at the end of this year to see how it goes," the former driver continued.
"Mercedes is saying no, there's no place at this particular inn at the moment. So, quite what he would do, I don't know.
"Nobody's indispensable in this business. I've seen a number of amazing people come through this sport who are no longer with us or moved on and done something else, and the sport carries on. The great Murray Walker would be one of them.
"And this goes for any of us. The minute we stop, people will be talking about whoever's doing the job next. There are a number of Antonellis, Bearmans, Lindblads out there who would do the job incredibly well for 1% of the money.
"The sport will just move on if Max decides to go, but he's doing quite a lot of damage meanwhile, but I think we all appreciate that's how Max rock and rolls, but I'd be surprised if he'd really walk away from it.
"It's great to be at the Nurburgring. I've done that. In the paddock, 150 cars on the track. He'll find the 24-hour race quite challenging, quite sketchy, but he's got his own team. He loves that. He loves his sim racing. Do I think he'd just walk away from F1? No, I don't. Providing he can get a car that pleases him."
