Max Verstappen says 2027 F1 engine changes make staying in the sport more likely

Max Verstappen says planned 2027 Formula 1 engine changes make it more likely he stays in the sport, after the FIA and F1 agreed in principle to move toward a more combustion-heavy power-unit formula.

The Red Bull driver said the direction was “very positive” and that it would “definitely” help his chances of remaining in Formula 1, according to multiple reports from the Canadian Grand Prix weekend in Montreal.

The comments come after the FIA said on May 8 that proposals for 2027 would increase internal combustion engine power by about 50kW and reduce ERS deployment power by about 50kW. The governing body said the changes were agreed in principle as part of an evolutionary update to the regulations.

Autosport first reported Verstappen’s remarks on Thursday night, with Reuters, BBC Sport, Sky Sports and RACER all publishing similar accounts shortly afterward.

Why the change matters

The planned tweak would shift the balance of the power unit slightly back toward the combustion engine and away from electric deployment. That is the direction Verstappen said he likes, describing it as a better product for racing.

His comments are notable because any suggestion about his future quickly becomes a major storyline in Formula 1. Verstappen did not announce any commitment or timeline, but his latest remarks were more upbeat about staying in the championship than previous speculation has suggested.

What happens next

The 2027 changes are not yet final. Sources describing the rule shift say the proposal was agreed in principle, which means the FIA and F1 can still refine the details before anything is locked in.

For now, the immediate takeaway is straightforward: Verstappen is publicly more positive about F1’s technical direction, and that could ease concerns over whether he will remain in the sport long term.