Red Bull warned 2026 competitiveness key to keeping Verstappen
Johnny Herbert warns that Max Verstappen's future at Red Bull hinges entirely on the team's competitiveness in 2026. With Red Bull becoming a new power unit manufacturer, failure to provide a title-winning car could see the four-time champion seek opportunities elsewhere, as his sole focus is on winning.
Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert has warned that if Red Bull fails to produce a championship-contending car for the 2026 regulation overhaul, it could trigger the departure of star driver Max Verstappen. The Dutchman's loyalty is tied directly to performance, and with Red Bull embarking on its most ambitious project yet as a new power unit manufacturer, the pressure to deliver is immense.
Why it matters:
Verstappen is the cornerstone of Red Bull's success, and his potential departure would represent a seismic shift in the F1 grid. As the sport enters a new technical era in 2026, a team's ability to adapt defines its future. For Red Bull, navigating its first season as a full powertrain supplier while retaining the sport's top talent is a dual challenge that will shape the competitive landscape for years.
The details:
- Verstappen's commitment has been tested before, with talks held with Mercedes in early 2025 before he recommitted to Red Bull for the new regulatory cycle.
- Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has openly acknowledged that Verstappen is taking a risk by staying with the team through this transition.
- Herbert emphasizes that Verstappen's core mentality is purely to win. "He’s not there to finish second... If they don’t [give him a winning car], then he’s going to look elsewhere, because that’s what racing drivers do," he stated.
- The assessment is that performance doesn't necessarily mean being fastest at every race, but having a car that is "the quickest out of the box, one of the quickest, or very, very close" and can consistently challenge for victories.
What's next:
All eyes are on Red Bull's 2026 development. The early shakedown of its new power unit in Barcelona showed promise, but its true competitiveness against established manufacturers like Mercedes remains the critical unknown. The coming months of testing and the opening races of the 2026 season will provide the first real evidence of whether Red Bull can meet this historic challenge and secure Verstappen's long-term future.