Max Verstappen might have one more year of guaranteed title contention ahead of him before Formula 1’s new set of regulations arrive and change things for good.
Red Bull are making their own power unit in partnership with Ford from 2026 and starting from square one is going to pose multiple challenges.
Fortunately, they have Verstappen under contract until the end of 2028 but that doesn’t mean that the Dutchman hasn’t got any performance clauses in his contract. He may have a way out if he pleases.
Team boss Christian Horner thinks Red Bull will take a massive leap in 2026 and backed their new engine to hand them an advantage over their rivals.
If it turns out to be as good as he claims, the team could guarantee themselves to be in Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championship contention for a long time.
Red Bull won’t be allowed to test their 2026 power unit this season which means that it will have to hit the ground running. The last time significant engine rules changed was in 2014 when they were hit with major reliability issues.
Fortunately, making their own engine means they can control their own destiny and ensure that any teething problems are dealt with quickly and effectively in-house.
Max Verstappen camp confirms £1 billion Aston Martin ‘offer’ has not been made
Formula 1 enters a great unknown next year, but first, there is a season of incredibly tightly-contested racing to be decided.
The final year of the technical regulations often brings the teams closer together as the law of diminishing returns (where teams can only find so much performance) comes into effect.
Red Bull finished last season with the third-fastest car, despite claiming the Drivers’ crown by a comfortable margin.
READ MORE: David Coulthard reveals his private Max Verstappen verdict after getting to know the Red Bull F1 driver
Both McLaren and Ferrari were faster and the trend may only be exaggerated in 2025 if Red Bull opts to focus on the new regulations and abandon development of their current car earlier in the season.
Rumours that Verstappen could accept a £1 billion offer from Aston Martin if Red Bull’s performance continues to drop off emerged last week.
One week later the Dutchman’s camp has responded to the claims, which may disappoint some fans who had hopes of a change.
“It would be nice, but we haven’t received that offer yet,” they told F1-insider.
Why Aston Martin could be an interesting proposition for Max Verstappen in 2026
Fernando Alonso is excited about Adrian Newey’s Aston Martin arrival and it’s something which could alter the team’s trajectory.
After a promising start to the 2023 season, they have failed to bring effective developments to their car and are back in the midfield again.
Signing the legendary designer from Red Bull was a vital step for their future. Newey rarely misses with his designs and their heavy investment in infrastructure should give him plenty of resources to work with.
READ MORE: Max Verstappen told he has one ‘luxury’ if Red Bull problems persist
He starts work on their project this year and while his influence won’t be felt until 2026, it could be perfectly timed.
Nailing the new regulations could give them an advantage over their rivals that sets them up for long-term success. Newey will be working to integrate a new Honda power unit with their car, who he already has a relationship with.
If it all comes together, it could help to create an incredible car and opportunity for Verstappen, if it’s something that he would be interested in.
