Max Verstappen’s future was one of last year’s main talking points, with the Dutchman often linked to a Red Bull departure. Specifically, Mercedes were mentioned as a plausible destination for Verstappen in 2026 and beyond.
An exit clause in Verstappen’s contract meant he could theoretically leave Red Bull before his deal concluded. However, this exit clause could only be activated if he was below third in the drivers’ standings at the summer break.
Ironically, because he was marginally ahead of George Russell – whose Mercedes negotiations were delayed by their pursuit of Verstappen – meant that the 4-time Champion would continue at Milton Keynes in 2026.
With that said, the Austrian squad is well aware that retaining the 28-year-old’s services will require an upward development trajectory.
Red Bull aim for quick learning curve with 2026 engines
In ordinary circumstances, Red Bull would be considered one of the favourites for a new set of regulations. Their track record speaks for itself, with a technical department that regularly finds solutions that others overlook.
Of course, for several reasons, the situation at Milton Keynes is different to previous regulations. Starting in 2026, Red Bull will field their own power units – officially upgrading from their former customer team status.
Assembling an engine department is a huge undertaking, which is partly why Laurent Mekies’ team has been to proactive in its recruitment in experienced and seasoned technicians from other teams.
Red Bull Powertrains now has over 700 personnel at its disposal, a comparable figure to some of the more established manufacturers. Many of these engineers were signed from Mercedes and even Honda, in part of what is becoming a hyper-competitive battle to emerge victorious in F1’s knowledge economy.
News that Red Bull are working on the same compression ratio solution for their engines as Mercedes was widely perceived as a promising sign about their chances of adapting and being proactive with these 2026 regulations.
Having said all this, the Austrian outfit know they are at the beginning of a very demanding journey.
Generally speaking, a team would set relatively modest targets for itself in their first campaign as an engine manufacturer. However, two factors make it impossible for Red Bull to give themselves this grace.
The first is their winning history. As the sport’s most successful team of the 21st century, Red Bull have no intention of slowing down.
The second motivating factor is to ensure they can persuade Max Verstappen to stay committed to their project. (cont. on next page)