2 weeks Ago By Harry Smith
After clinching second place at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen ’s future is starting to look clear; the Dutchman should remain at Red Bull for the 2026 season. F1’s reigning world champion has won all four of his Drivers’ Championship titles with Red Bull , but the Milton Keynes squad have been rocked by a number of controversies and uncertain moments over the past 18 months. The latest hurdle has been a challenging start to the 2025 campaign, which has produced just one win in five races.
Verstappen’s stance is clear. The 27-year-old is in F1 to fight for World Championships, rather than podiums or top-five finishes. Unlike Charles Leclerc at Ferrari and George Russell at Mercedes , he does not want to lead a long-term rebuild project - he wants immediate success.
At times this season, that success has felt like a distant memory for Red Bull . In Bahrain, for example, the ill-handling RB21 looked more akin to the Sauber than the McLaren machinery, leading the race. However, the performances in Suzuka and Jeddah should make it clear to Verstappen that his current squad are capable of bouncing back at lightning speed.
In fact, at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix last weekend, the Dutchman was outpacing Oscar Piastri throughout the opening stint, despite the MCL39 showing pace that evoked memories of Mercedes ’ W11 challenger throughout the free practice sessions. This should give Verstappen all the confidence that he needs that Red Bull can fight for the title again, and the upcoming upgrade package in Imola will only strengthen his team’s case. Of course, the 2025 title might pass him by, but with new regulations coming into play next year, the 27-year-old’s next move has to be the correct one.
And that is why, despite the allure of Aston Martin’s mega bucks, Verstappen needs to stay put in 2026. For one, with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll both fighting for new deals in 2027, the door will remain open for the reigning world champion. It is not a case of now or never.
Of course, with Adrian Newey and Honda on board, Aston Martin’s 2026 car is an exciting project, but while extreme transfers are possible in regulation transitions, the Silverstone-based squad’s current struggles are impossible to ignore. Andy Cowell’s squad are seventh in the Constructors’ Championship, but that position is flattered by Lance Stroll ’s sixth-place finish in a chaotic Australian Grand Prix. They have failed to score in the last three races.
With no room at the Mercedes inn, Verstappen’s best bet is to hang tight and trust in Christian Horner to turn the ship around..
