Why Max Verstappen really stuck with Red Bull for 2026 and his F1 future is far from set
Do not think for a second that this is the last you have heard of Max Verstappen considering quitting Red Bull. He finally put Mercedes out of their misery this week, confirming he will stay where he is – for now.
But that was only after his results in Belgium last week made it mathematically impossible for him to be able to trigger his exit clause, if he wanted to. It is understood that he did not seriously consider switching this year, but only because now is NOT the time to be making a huge decision about your future.
Like everyone else in the sport, Verstappen wants to see where the chips will fall next year when radical new engine and aerodynamic rule changes will completely shake up the competitive order on the Formula 1 grid. Red Bull are building their own engines for the first time and do not expect to be able to compete with the experienced manufacturers straight away.
The smart money is on Mercedes starting strongest, given they blew away the competition in 2014 the last time F1 brought in new engines. But who knows? Maybe Ferrari will get the jump on their rivals. Or Honda could catapult new customer Aston Martin into contention.
The answer is nobody does right now and that is why Max is biding his time. That exit clause will come back into play next summer, rendering the fact his contract runs until 2028 fairly meaningless.
And if Red Bull are miles off it, no amount of loyalty or preference to stay put will deter him from chasing the quickest car he can get his hands on. The best champions are always hungry for more and Verstappen is certainly not here to make up the numbers. Red Bull may have won this battle for the future of their star man, but the outcome of the war will be decided this time next year.
---
Are 24 race weekends per year starting to get too much for Fernando Alonso's body to handle? The oldest man in F1 turned 44 on Thursday but had to sit out first practice yesterday with back pain, citing a lack of recovery time from last Sunday's Belgium race.
He was back in the car for FP2 and expects to race as usual on Sunday, but it was a sign of his body struggling under the strain of modern F1's demands. Alonso has a contract with Aston Martin for 2026 – we will see if it will be his last.
From the archive
Valtteri Bottas produced his best impression of a bulldozer on lap one of the 2021 Budapest race, as seven cars were hit at the first corner, clearing a path for Esteban Ocon to take his first and only career win to date in the Alpine.
Fast fact
The Hungaroring is a regular site for drivers to win in F1 for the first time, the likes of Oscar Piastri (2024), Jenson Button (2006) and Alonso (2003) having taken their maiden victories here, as well as Ocon.
Inside track
The strong form of Alex Albon for Williams this season has earned him plenty of admirers among the top teams on the grid again. It is understood the British-Thai driver is very happy where he is for now, but he could become a key player in the 2026 driver market picture.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Fans concerned for Lewis Hamilton after F1 star's radio message to Ferrari team at Hungarian GP
'REALLY SORRY' Fans concerned for Lewis Hamilton after F1 star's radio message to Ferrari team at Hungarian GP Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FANS are concerned for Lewis Hamilton after his dejected message to his Ferrari colleagues. Hamilton had a nightmare Hungarian Grand Prix today, finishing in a disappointing 12th. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Lewis Hamilton apologised to Ferrari over the team radio Credit: Getty 2 Hamilton finished outside the points in 12th Credit: Alamy The seven-time world champion failed to pick up any points and sounded like a broken man over the team radio post-race. Hamilton said: "Really sorry about this weekend guys, for losing you points." He also reportedly sat in his car for some time after parking it up. It comes after the Brit's woeful qualifying session yesterday that saw him exit in Q2 while team-mate Charles Leclerc secured a shock pole. READ MORE IN F1 WONDER LAND Lando Norris pips Piastri to Hungarian Grand Prix as F1 title race heats up Hamilton again sounded crestfallen over the team radio, saying: "It's me every time. I'm useless, absolutely useless. "The team have no problem. You've seen the car's on pole so we probably need to change driver." Told by a member of the Ferrari team that his assessment was wrong, Hamilton replied: "It clearly is. I just drove terribly. It is what it is." Hamilton has not finished on the podium in 14 races since making his move to the Scuderia. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK And to cap a disastrous weekend for Ferrari in Hungary, Leclerc slipped to fourth and slammed the team over the radio. He raged: "This is so incredibly frustrating. We have lost all competitiveness. 'I'm absolutely useless' - Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari 'need to change driver' after Hungarian GP qualifying nightmare "You just had to listen to me, I would have found a different way of managing those issues. "Now it's just undriveable. Undrivable. It's a miracle if we finish on the podium." McLaren's Lando Norris won the Grand Prix and celebrated by kissing his model girlfriend Margarida Corceiro.
South Wales Argus
2 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Lando Norris ready to go all the way in championship battle with Oscar Piastri
Norris started third and dropped to fifth after a poor first corner at the Hungaroring before he rolled the strategy dice – stopping one less time than his rivals – to take the lead and then held off Piastri's late charge in a brilliant finale. Piastri came within centimetres of colliding with Norris on the penultimate lap when he momentarily lost control of his McLaren as he attempted a banzai move for the win. But Norris survived and held his nerve to keep the fast-charging Australian at bay to land his fifth win of the season – his third in his last four appearances – taking the chequered flag just six tenths clear and reducing the championship deficit to nine points with 10 rounds remaining. Max Verstappen, who finished ninth on Sunday, remains in third in the standings but 97 points off the championship pace. 'I'm dead,' said Norris. 'In the final stint Oscar was catching and I was pushing flat out. My voice has gone a little bit. 'It has been a tough battle so far with Oscar and it is going to continue to be tough. The margins between us are pretty small. There are things I can do better and improve on, and I am sure he will probably say the same thing. So, it is going to be a good and tough fight, probably until the end. 'Even though the results have looked great, I'm not making my life very easy at the minute. If I can work on those things, then I'll be in a better place.' Norris' win in the concluding round before the summer break reignites his bid to land a maiden world crown. But the Bristolian can count himself somewhat fortunate to be standing on the top step of the podium. At the start, Norris got away well from his marks, but an attempt to pass Piastri on the inside of the opening corner backfired. DRIVER STANDINGS (AFTER 14/24 ROUNDS) Oscar Piastri takes a nine-point lead into the summer break#F1 #HungarianGP — Formula 1 (@F1) August 3, 2025 Norris did not commit to the overtake and that left him in no-man's land, allowing George Russell and then Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso to breeze through. On lap three, Norris fought his way clear of Alonso but was then tucked up behind Russell and making little progress. Piastri and Charles Leclerc, who controlled the first stint of the race from pole position, stopped for new tyres on laps 18 and 19 respectively. Russell also peeled into the pits on lap 19 promoting Norris to the front. McLaren were now considering a one-stop strategy. Norris' race engineer, Will Joseph, was on the radio: 'Lando, 40 laps on the hard tyre, you up for it?' Norris replied: 'Yeah, why not?' On lap 31 of 70, the Englishman came in for his sole change of tyres before lighting up the timesheets with the fastest laps of the race so far. Norris celebrates victory on the top of the podium in Hungary (Bradley Collyer/PA) In his haste to catch up, Norris then dropped two wheels through the gravel on the exit of the chicane, which irked Joseph. 'Lando, just keep the focus, we don't want these mistakes,' he said. Leclerc, Piastri and Russell were all forced to stop again. When it all shuffled out, Norris led Leclerc by seven seconds, with Piastri five seconds further back. But Piastri was on the move, swatting Leclerc aside on lap 51 and then set about reducing Norris' nine-second advantage. With five laps to go, Piastri was just a second behind his team-mate, and on the penultimate lap, the Australian went for glory at the first bend. However, Norris retained his composure and remained ahead to land what could be a pivotal win in his championship charge. Russell took the final place on the podium with Leclerc a disappointed fourth. The next race takes place in the Netherlands on August 31.
Powys County Times
2 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Lando Norris ready to go all the way in championship battle with Oscar Piastri
Lando Norris believes his championship battle with Oscar Piastri will go to the wire following his victory at Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix. Norris started third and dropped to fifth after a poor first corner at the Hungaroring before he rolled the strategy dice – stopping one less time than his rivals – to take the lead and then held off Piastri's late charge in a brilliant finale. Piastri came within centimetres of colliding with Norris on the penultimate lap when he momentarily lost control of his McLaren as he attempted a banzai move for the win. Norris ⚔️ Piastri: How did they not collide?! 😱 #F1 #HungarianGP — Formula 1 (@F1) August 3, 2025 But Norris survived and held his nerve to keep the fast-charging Australian at bay to land his fifth win of the season – his third in his last four appearances – taking the chequered flag just six tenths clear and reducing the championship deficit to nine points with 10 rounds remaining. Max Verstappen, who finished ninth on Sunday, remains in third in the standings but 97 points off the championship pace. 'I'm dead,' said Norris. 'In the final stint Oscar was catching and I was pushing flat out. My voice has gone a little bit. 'It has been a tough battle so far with Oscar and it is going to continue to be tough. The margins between us are pretty small. There are things I can do better and improve on, and I am sure he will probably say the same thing. So, it is going to be a good and tough fight, probably until the end. 'Even though the results have looked great, I'm not making my life very easy at the minute. If I can work on those things, then I'll be in a better place.' Norris' win in the concluding round before the summer break reignites his bid to land a maiden world crown. But the Bristolian can count himself somewhat fortunate to be standing on the top step of the podium. At the start, Norris got away well from his marks, but an attempt to pass Piastri on the inside of the opening corner backfired. DRIVER STANDINGS (AFTER 14/24 ROUNDS) Oscar Piastri takes a nine-point lead into the summer break #F1 #HungarianGP — Formula 1 (@F1) August 3, 2025 Norris did not commit to the overtake and that left him in no-man's land, allowing George Russell and then Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso to breeze through. On lap three, Norris fought his way clear of Alonso but was then tucked up behind Russell and making little progress. Piastri and Charles Leclerc, who controlled the first stint of the race from pole position, stopped for new tyres on laps 18 and 19 respectively. Russell also peeled into the pits on lap 19 promoting Norris to the front. McLaren were now considering a one-stop strategy. Norris' race engineer, Will Joseph, was on the radio: 'Lando, 40 laps on the hard tyre, you up for it?' Norris replied: 'Yeah, why not?' On lap 31 of 70, the Englishman came in for his sole change of tyres before lighting up the timesheets with the fastest laps of the race so far. In his haste to catch up, Norris then dropped two wheels through the gravel on the exit of the chicane, which irked Joseph. 'Lando, just keep the focus, we don't want these mistakes,' he said. Leclerc, Piastri and Russell were all forced to stop again. When it all shuffled out, Norris led Leclerc by seven seconds, with Piastri five seconds further back. But Piastri was on the move, swatting Leclerc aside on lap 51 and then set about reducing Norris' nine-second advantage. With five laps to go, Piastri was just a second behind his team-mate, and on the penultimate lap, the Australian went for glory at the first bend. However, Norris retained his composure and remained ahead to land what could be a pivotal win in his championship charge.
