Max Verstappen to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Verstappen fans. Speculation had been rife that former Formula One world champion is about to announce his retirement from sports, at age 29, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 19/10/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a racing driver isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a racing driver just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouMax

For a little while on Sunday evening, #ThankYouMax was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“Max Verstappen was unlike any other racing driver we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouMax”
— @universalObserver, 18 Oct 2026

“I thought Max Verstappen retired about 5 years ago?!?”
— @millythom, 18 Oct 2026

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