McLaren driver Oscar Piastri says Max Verstappen leaving Formula 1 would be “not a great look” and “a big loss for the sport”.

Following last month’s Japanese Grand Prix, Verstappen suggested he could walk away from F1 at the end of the season due to his lack of enjoyment of the new rules for 2026.

The four-time world champion has been highly critical of the new power unit regulations and near 50-50 split between internal combustion and electrical power, which has placed greater emphasis on drivers needing to manage battery levels.

Verstappen is considering his future amid his dissatisfaction with the rules and having finished no higher than sixth in the opening three races of the season for Red Bull. 

"I think it would be a shame for the sport to lose Max, especially at this point in his career as well. I think it would be a big loss for the sport as a whole," Piastri told media including Crash.net.

"I think for us as drivers, we want to race against the best and try and prove ourselves against the best.

"Max has shown his calibre in the last 10 years, and I think especially in the last five or six, he's been the benchmark. So, I think for everyone it would be a pretty big shame and obviously not a great look.”

Reigning world champion Lando Norris, who narrowly beat Verstappen to the world title in 2025, said: "Max has earned the right to go and do whatever he wants. He's won four world championships, and he's always been that guy.

“He probably is one of the best drivers you'll see in Formula 1 ever. It would be a shame for us because I think, as much as he makes our lives incredibly tough at times, he's always good fun to race against. And it's always cool to race against someone that's won four world championships. It would be a loss for the sport.

"Hopefully things get better. And I also saw he said he wants to win a fifth World Championship at the minute. So, you know, I'm sure he'll stay longer than people say.”

During an enforced break following the cancellation of races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia due to the Iran War, F1 revealed a raft of rule changes in an attempt to address concerns about the regulations and driver safety.

It remains to be seen if it will be enough to alter Verstappen’s stance and keep him in F1.