– Max Verstappen has expressed doubts about his future at Red Bull for the first time after the difficult start to the 2026 Formula 1 season. The four-time world champion stated that he has “life decisions” to make. The Formula 1 rules for 2026 have raised serious questions for Max Verstappen, who is one of the biggest critics of the new regulations.
The 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 world champion already caused a stir before the current season when he described the stronger dependence of power units on electrical energy as “anti-racing” and like “Formula E on steroids.”
Criticism of the new Formula 1 rules
This led to battery management playing a key role in the first three Grands Prix of 2026. Drivers often downshifted on straights, lifted off early, rolled into corners, or used so-called “super-clipping” when the car recovers energy at full throttle to stabilize the vehicle’s energy balance.
The driver field is divided in its opinion about the new rules. But those who support them, especially the dominant Mercedes duo George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, do so according to Verstappen only “because they win races.”
Difficult start to the season for Red Bull
Adding to the Dutchman’s difficulties is that his Red Bull team has had a poor start to the season. The RB22 suffers from significant balance problems and struggles to maintain tire grip.
The Austrian team has therefore fallen back to the midfield and is sixth in the constructors’ standings with only 16 points. Twelve of these points come from Verstappen, who is ninth in the drivers’ standings.
The situation is therefore serious. So serious that Verstappen said after the recent race in Japan, where he finished only eighth after an early exit in Q2, that he has to make “life decisions,” especially regarding his future and staying in Formula 1.
Future beyond 2028 uncertain
Whether he will remain in the championship beyond the end of his current contract in 2028 has been discussed for some time. But this was the first time he questioned his immediate future. This comes against the backdrop of Verstappen increasingly participating in GT3 endurance races. The 28-year-old will compete in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring on May 16 and 17.
However, before that, he was asked about his “life decisions” statement ahead of the Miami Grand Prix. Verstappen says: “Yes, honestly, there is nothing new about that. In recent weeks I have been busy with other things, but I still have time and I am taking it.”
Lambiase’s departure raises questions
Miami is the first race in five weeks after Japan, as the Grands Prix of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain had to be canceled due to the conflict in the Middle East.
Photo gallery: The Red Bull departures of recent years
During this time, it also became known that Verstappen’s long-time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will move to McLaren by 2028 at the latest. Therefore, it was also asked how much this could affect Verstappen’s future. However, he emphasized that it has “nothing to do with it,” although he had previously said that he did not want to work with another race engineer.
“Otherwise, I can’t drive anymore – then I just have to work with someone else,” Verstappen adds. “But I think times change, and with the offer he got, I would have been an idiot to want to keep him.”
- Formula 1Formula 1 live ticker: The sprint qualifying in Miami
- Formula 1Miami practice: Leclerc tops the hectic final phase
- MotoGPRed Bull and Monster: MotoGP sponsorship is reshuffled
- MotoGP“Difficult, no fun”: Razgatlioglu struggles with Yamaha’s lack of chances
“It’s not always just about me, but also about his career and his future,” emphasizes the Dutchman. “For me, that was a clear decision. But as far as the future is concerned, we are now looking ahead with another race engineer. I am sure we will find a solution for that as well.”
