Max Verstappen remains the key figure at Red Bull Racing as the team eyes the 2026 Formula 1 season. The Dutch driver, who has been leading the charge for Red Bull since 2019, is expected to spearhead the team’s title challenge amid significant technical changes set to reshape the sport.
Red Bull has secured Verstappen’s contract for the next season, dispelling rumors of his possible move to Mercedes. With major regulatory shifts coming in 2026 involving new cars and power units, the team is determined to start the new era strongly, relying heavily on Verstappen’s performance to keep them at the forefront.
Helmut Marko Places Trust in Verstappen to Sustain Red Bull’s Competitiveness
Dr. Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s senior advisor, reinforced the team’s confidence in Verstappen as the linchpin for their championship hopes. Addressing speculation about Verstappen’s future, the 82-year-old stated that the team’s expectations rest on having the reigning four-time world champion leading the charge, which would also quell ongoing rumors about his potential exit.
We’re counting on being in the lead with Max again next season so we don’t hear about his stipulations again.
—Helmut Marko, Senior Advisor, Red Bull Racing
Marko revealed that development progress towards the 2026 regulations is encouraging so far, especially regarding the car’s chassis and power unit. While the technical work is still in early stages, testing will provide clearer insights into the car’s competitiveness. The power unit’s success, he noted, depends on four critical elements: the internal combustion engine, the battery, the quality of petrol, and the fuel supply system.
The values we currently find are promising and there is still a lot of time left for testing. We are well underway with the chassis and the quality of the power unit will be decided by four factors, namely internal combustion engine, battery, petrol and fuel supply.
—Helmut Marko, Senior Advisor, Red Bull Racing
Preventing a Repeat of Mercedes’ 2014 Dominance
Marko expressed concern over a repeat of the power unit dominance seen in 2014, when the introduction of Turbo Hybrid engines gave Mercedes a massive advantage over rivals. The German team’s supremacy during that era saw no other manufacturer come close in performance, creating a near-monopoly at the front of the grid.
I hope there will be no repeat of what happened in 2014 when Mercedes had 50 to 70 more horsepower.
—Helmut Marko, Senior Advisor, Red Bull Racing
In preparation for 2026, Red Bull is developing its own power units for the first time, in partnership with Ford under the brand “Red Bull Ford Powertrains.” This initiative, originally driven by former team principal Christian Horner, aims to close the gap with rivals Mercedes and Ferrari in power unit technology. The collaboration marks a major strategic shift for the Milton Keynes-based team as it seeks to regain a competitive edge in the next regulatory cycle.
Max Verstappen’s Role as Team Leader in a Transformative Season
With so much riding on the 2026 regulations, Max Verstappen will face immense pressure to deliver results that keep Red Bull at the front. Although the team has confirmed his continuation, Red Bull has yet to finalize Verstappen’s teammate for the next year. Yuki Tsunoda remains with the team through the current season, but his position for 2026 remains uncertain amid the evolving driver lineup discussions.
The outcome of this significant technical overhaul will have a lasting impact on the competitive landscape of Formula 1. Red Bull’s approach to power unit development and Verstappen’s ability to extract performance will be vital in their pursuit of another world title under the new rules. As testing and development progress, the motorsport world will watch closely to see if Red Bull can reclaim dominance or if rivals will seize the opportunity.
