Karun Chandhok is at it again, sticking to his guns on a theory that’s been making waves. The former F1 driver and now pundit believes Max Verstappen might take a sabbatical from Formula 1, a break that could see him return more energized and ready for action.
Verstappen, under contract with Red Bull until the end of 2028, has fueled speculation about his future in F1. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has openly expressed his desire to bring Verstappen into his team, and Verstappen himself has frequently hinted at stepping away from the series in the next few years.
Chandhok recently reiterated this theory, suggesting that Verstappen could sit out the 2026 season. This particular year will introduce new chassis and power unit regulations, and Verstappen might use this time to evaluate the best team to return with. Mercedes driver George Russell shares a similar view, adding more weight to the speculation.
In a piece for The Intercooler, Chandhok wrote, ‘A couple of weeks ago I appeared to create a spot of social media chaos by suggesting that Max Verstappen could take a year away from F1. The controversial start to Red Bull’s season, very much an ongoing case between the complainant and Christian Horner, seems to have riled Max’s dad Jos Verstappen, destabilizing the harmony between the Verstappen camp and Horner. This has led to plenty of speculation around Max’s future with the team.’
Chandhok continued, ‘While I don’t know whether Max will leave Red Bull for another team, he’s been open about his ambition to try other forms of the sport and not being around F1 forever. It is racing and driving he loves and it doesn’t have to be in F1. Clearly Max is performing at an incredible level and is young enough to take a break and come back strong if he wanted to. He’s been at kart tracks and travelling the world relentlessly ever since he was four years old. He achieved his life’s ambition of becoming F1 World Champion back in 2021 at the tender age of just 24. By the end of this year he’ll probably be a quadruple World Champion, and I wonder if he’s looking for a new challenge to re-discover his mojo and come back reinvigorated.’
Despite the victories of McLaren’s Lando Norris in Miami and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in Monaco casting doubt on Verstappen’s status as a four-time World Champion by the end of this season, the Dutchman remains unperturbed about any potential title battle.
When asked by media including PlanetF1.com at the Monaco Grand Prix about the ongoing championship battle, Verstappen responded, ‘I don’t even think about that. It’s so long, so many things that can happen. One bad race won’t define the Championship. But I know that to win a title you need to be consistent and that’s what we have to try and be.’
Verstappen currently leads the Drivers’ Championship by 31 points over Leclerc.
As the F1 world speculates about Verstappen’s future, Chandhok’s theory of a sabbatical adds an intriguing layer to the narrative. Whether Verstappen decides to take a break or continue pushing through the seasons, one thing is clear: the young champion’s journey is far from predictable.
Source: Planetf1
