Mark Webber: Formula 1 cannot afford to lose Max Verstappen

Former Formula 1 driver and current manager of Oscar Piastri, Mark Webber believes it would be a major blow for Formula 1 if Max Verstappen decided to leave the championship.

Verstappen has been openly critical of Formula 1’s new technical regulations introduced for the 2026 season. Although changes were made ahead of the Miami Grand Prix to address some of the concerns, the four-time world champion has made it clear that his dissatisfaction remains.

The Red Bull Racing driver is currently considering his long-term future, and he has suggested that even having a race-winning car would not necessarily change his feelings about the current generation of Formula 1 machinery.

Webber believes Verstappen is far too valuable for the sport to lose.

“Naturally, Red Bull would love Max to stay,” Webber said in an exclusive interview with RacingNews365.

“That’s incredibly easy to predict. Holistically, looking at the whole sport, when you’ve got someone like him, characters like Verstappen are what the sport needs. We need these people.People switch on the TV because of Max Verstappen, and Liberty know that. Teams know that. He’s important,” the former Red Bull driver added.

Webber also pointed out that Verstappen’s importance goes beyond his popularity with fans. His extraordinary talent raises the standard across the grid and forces every other driver to perform at their absolute best.

According to the Australian, Verstappen’s rivals know they are facing one of the greatest drivers of the modern era whenever he lines up on the grid, which is why his presence continues to have such a significant impact on Formula 1. While Verstappen has not made any final decision about his future, his ongoing criticism of the regulations has created uncertainty over whether he will remain in the sport for years to come.