Verstappen already hinted his lack of enjoyment driving the new cars which could possibly lead to end of his Formula 1 career. It became a bigger topic after he finished eighth in Japanese Grand Prix as he told BBC Sport: “Privately I'm very happy. You also wait for 24 races. This time it's 22. But normally 24. And then you just think about is it worth it? Or do I enjoy being more at home with my family? Seeing my friends more when you're not enjoying your sport?”

Verstappen also dismissed suggestions that his doubts over remaining in the sport are caused by poor competitiveness of his Red Bull. He said that he can easily accept to be in P7 or P8 and that it is ordinary to not dominate every time: “I'm very realistic in that and I've been there before. I've not only been winning in F1. But at the same time when you are in P7 or P8 and you are not enjoying the whole formula behind it, it doesn't feel natural to a racing driver.”

According to his words he is trying to adapt to new regulations, but it is not a nice way to race and it is not what he wants to do. “And of course you can look at it and make a lot of money. Great. But at the end of the day it's not about money anymore because this has always been my passion,” he added.

Verstappen also insists that his struggles in attempting to enjoy F1 in its current format is not healthy: “You hear it from a lot of sports people when you speak to them about how you are successful. It all starts with actually enjoying what you're doing before you can actually commit to it 100 per cent.”

He also says that he is trying to commit 100 per cent but the fact that he has to tell himself to commit 100 per cent is not heathy because he isn’t enjoying what he is doing.

Verstappen has already begun finding other options as he competed in a GT3 race in Nürburgring in Germany recently. His appearance was supposed to be more of a practice because he is expected to compete in 24 hours race in Nürburgring.