Max Verstappen faces a McLaren ultimatum as Red Bull takes the first step to hold onto him.
Max Verstappen’s plans after 2026 have been uncertain for a while, but it looks like Red Bull is making good progress to keep him on their team. Verstappen, along with a few other drivers, hasn’t been happy with the new F1 cars and the focus on battery harvesting and power use.
Red Bull’s car had several big problems in 2026, causing Verstappen to spin out three times, including at the British Grand Prix. During the Silverstone race, he crashed from third place because the rear wing on his car didn’t close properly. He called the situation “dangerous” and said he was “fed up” after a similar crash in qualifying at Austria.
Verstappen’s frustration with the car led to talk about his future. His agents even met with McLaren to explore options, and there were whispers about a possible driver swap with Oscar Piastri. But lately, those rumors have quieted down for a clear reason.
Before the Belgian Grand Prix, Red Bull switched back to an older rear wing design after their troubles, and this change made a big difference. Verstappen qualified third at Spa, earning a spot on the front row, and that positive result with the older design could be key to keeping him with Red Bull.
Sky Sports’ Ted Kravitz thinks the new changes to Red Bull’s car will help keep Verstappen happy and make it less likely he’ll move to McLaren. He explained, “They’ve done half the job just by getting him back on the podium. Red Bull knows if they keep Max happy, he’ll stay with the team that can win races.”
Kravitz added, “Winning races and championships makes Max happy, so that’s a big reason to stay. He might look at McLaren and think they’re not closer to beating Mercedes than Red Bull is right now. So half the work was to get Verstappen back on the podium, and the other half is the recent upgrades to the Red Bull car, which are working well.”
The tricky rear wing, which caused Verstappen’s accidents at Silverstone and Austria, has been fixed. Red Bull’s team confirmed they found the mechanical issue that made the wing unsafe and told the FIA they have solved it, which was very important for safety. At Spa, the older rear wing worked well without any problems.
If Red Bull can keep reassuring Verstappen and continue improving the car, Kravitz thinks he will stay with the team.
Verstappen’s current contract runs until 2028, with performance clauses he can activate in October if he chooses to leave. Drivers usually decide their next season plans during the summer break, which starts after the Hungarian Grand Prix next weekend, so we might hear more soon.
For now, Red Bull’s efforts—especially fixing the rear wing—seem to be enough to keep the four-time world champion on their side.