Red Bull wavers on Max Verstappen’s 2026 role as team grapples with the impact of key departures.
Dr. Helmut Marko has not been able to firmly commit to Max Verstappen’s presence at Red Bull in 2026 and finally admits that recent departures are also to blame for the current technical issues.
The three-time world champion has a contract with the team until 2028, but speculation about his long-term future has been rampant this year following a power struggle within the team early in the season and now due to Red Bull’s alarming drop in competitiveness.
After winning seven of the first ten races, Verstappen has not crossed the checkered flag first in any of the last six Grands Prix, which have only included two podiums for him.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has tried to lure Verstappen to Brackley to replace Lewis Hamilton, although he ultimately opted for Andrea Kimi Antonelli but has kept the door open for the Dutchman in 2026.
Verstappen has at times hinted he might even leave F1 before his contract expires, given his dissatisfaction with various aspects of F1, but had previously stated he would be fine with the team for 2025.
Marko confirmed this, but tellingly, was not able to give a firm commitment for 2026.
“Next year, he will drive for Red Bull Racing. But 2026 is so far away, and for now, we are fully focused on the 2024 world championship,” he replies when asked if Verstappen could look elsewhere amid the team’s current struggles.
“The lead in the constructors’ championship has dropped to eight points, but we must not yet write off the title. Because if Max starts winning again and Checo finishes between third and fifth place, it will be enough to successfully defend the title. That is all we are thinking about at the moment.”
“2026, therefore, is still a long way off.”
Verstappen would be very unhappy to see that Red Bull did nothing to try to retain Adrian Newey.
“I have always said that I would have liked Adrian to stay,” he repeated again at Monza.
But Marko finally admits that there was nothing he could do about it and that departures hurt. A statement contrary to that made by Christian Horner at the Italian GP.
“It is clear that something like this (Newey’s departure) does not help. Ultimately, we must also recognize that our situation is not directly related to technical problems but to the departure of key people.”
“If some employees want a change and receive a good offer or see a new opportunity, then they take it. There is nothing we can do about it.”
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Red Bull cannot confirm Verstappen’s presence in 2026 Red Bull cannot confirm Verstappen’s presence in 2026
