Jenson Button doubts Max Verstappen will opt to take a sabbatical from Formula 1 due to his dissatisfaction with the 2026 rules.

Four-time world champion Verstappen has been the loudest critic about the new F1 regulations and suggested he could walk away from the series at the end of the season because of his lack of enjoyment.

Verstappen’s disenchantment with the 2026 rules, which feature a near 50-50 split between internal combustion and battery power, has raised questions over his long-term future.

Fellow ex-F1 driver turned pundit Karun Chandhok has tipped Verstappen to take a sabbatical, but 2009 world champion Button doesn’t think that is the Dutchman’s style.

“Personally, it doesn’t feel like he’s the sort of guy who wants to take a sabbatical,” Button told Sky Sports F1. “He’s either racing or he’s not.

“If he wants to stop and go do something else, that’s fun as well.

“I think this will be his last ‘career’ in F1. I don’t think he’ll take a year out and come back. I don’t think that’s the Max I’ve come to know.”

During the enforced April break, it was announced that Verstappen’s long-serving race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase has agreed to join McLaren upon the expiry of his current Red Bull contract in 2028.

The news has prompted suggestions that Verstappen could reunite with Lambiase in the future by jumping ship to Red Bull’s F1 rival.

Button expects Verstappen’s future will remain in the spotlight in the coming months, especially if Red Bull’s competitive struggles continue.

“Only a few weeks before it was announced that Lambiase was going to McLaren, Max came out and said ‘I can’t ever imagine racing without him by my side’,” Button said.

“But it’s 2028, it’s another two years away, so we’ll see. But it’s exciting, there’s so much to look forward to with the driver market over the next few years.

“Max is always going to be the centre of attention because he’s in a car, at the moment, that’s not performing. We’re used to him being at the front, and he’s not.”

Jenson Button doubts Max Verstappen will opt to take a sabbatical from Formula 1 due to his dissatisfaction with the 2026 rules.

Four-time world champion Verstappen has been the loudest critic about the new F1 regulations and suggested he could walk away from the series at the end of the season because of his lack of enjoyment.

Verstappen’s disenchantment with the 2026 rules, which feature a near 50-50 split between internal combustion and battery power, has raised questions over his long-term future.

Fellow ex-F1 driver turned pundit Karun Chandhok has tipped Verstappen to take a sabbatical, but 2009 world champion Button doesn’t think that is the Dutchman’s style.

“Personally, it doesn’t feel like he’s the sort of guy who wants to take a sabbatical,” Button told Sky Sports F1. “He’s either racing or he’s not.

“If he wants to stop and go do something else, that’s fun as well.

“I think this will be his last ‘career’ in F1. I don’t think he’ll take a year out and come back. I don’t think that’s the Max I’ve come to know.”

During the enforced April break, it was announced that Verstappen’s long-serving race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase has agreed to join McLaren upon the expiry of his current Red Bull contract in 2028.

The news has prompted suggestions that Verstappen could reunite with Lambiase in the future by jumping ship to Red Bull’s F1 rival.

Button expects Verstappen’s future will remain in the spotlight in the coming months, especially if Red Bull’s competitive struggles continue.

“Only a few weeks before it was announced that Lambiase was going to McLaren, Max came out and said ‘I can’t ever imagine racing without him by my side’,” Button said.

“But it’s 2028, it’s another two years away, so we’ll see. But it’s exciting, there’s so much to look forward to with the driver market over the next few years.

“Max is always going to be the centre of attention because he’s in a car, at the moment, that’s not performing. We’re used to him being at the front, and he’s not.”