Former Grand Prix winner Ralf Schumacher has urged Max Verstappen to rein in his public criticism of Formula 1’s new rules and to concentrate on helping Red Bull recover, warning that persistent lamenting risks undermining both team morale and commercial confidence. Schumacher told Sky Deutschland that the Dutch driver must “put his own ego aside” and act as a team player as the sport adapts to the contentious 2026 regulations.
Verstappen has become increasingly vocal about his frustrations with the new era of F1, at times making remarks that suggested he could consider stepping away from the sport. Schumacher said that while frustration is understandable, continued public complaints are counterproductive. “If he were to win now, he still wouldn't particularly like it, but it would be easier for him and you'd hear less criticism from him,” Schumacher said. “Now he simply has to put his own ego aside — after all, he's well paid for it — and act as a team player. That's what's important now.”
Schumacher argued that Verstappen’s focus should be on collaborating with engineers and teammates to get Red Bull back to the front rather than “moaning” about the regulation changes. He said there remain teams that can win under the new rules, so Verstappen’s best route back to the top is to help build the car capable of doing it. Schumacher warned that continued public grumbling could ripple through Red Bull’s ranks and among its partners, prompting internal doubts about Verstappen’s commitment at a delicate moment.
“It's not fair to the partners, because at some point they at Red Bull and co. will naturally ask themselves ‘He's been saying all along that he doesn't feel like it, now he's driving around the Nordschleife, then he wants to go to Le Mans. Is he even still the one who's giving his all to get the car out of the mud?’” Schumacher said, noting that sponsors and technical partners might question whether Verstappen remains fully invested in fixing the problems that have dogged Red Bull since the rule changes.
Still, Schumacher does not expect a sudden departure. “Formula 1 is bigger than any one of us,” he said. “Even though I'd be sorry to see him go because I really like him, if Max Verstappen were to retire, it would be the same. If he doesn't want to drive in Formula 1 anymore, he has to stick to his decision, and then the team can look for a new driver.” He added that it would be hard for Verstappen to swap the global, high-stakes environment of F1 for alternatives such as GT racing, pointing out differences in vehicle weight and dynamics — “A GT car, as nice as that is, but at 1.4 tons … it's a completely different ballgame.”
Schumacher’s comments, carried in reports following a Sky Deutschland interview, underscore growing scrutiny of how leading figures are responding to the sport’s transition under the 2026 technical regulations. His blunt assessment frames Verstappen’s publicity as not only a personal expression of discontent but also a potential liability for a team and sport that rely heavily on sponsor trust and unity when navigating a challenging competitive reset.