Max Verstappen is heading towards his fourth consecutive Formula One world championship. Despite winning just three races in the last nine, the Dutch driver sits 76 points ahead of Lando Norris and with ten Grand Prix remaining this season, its unlikely the McLaren driver can bridge the gap.

Mercedes run of form winning three of the last four Grand Prix halted McLaren’s surge somewhat and with Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes all vying for top spot, they take points from each other week in and out, leaving Max even without a win way ahead of the class of 2024.

Max has seven wins, Hamilton now has two and the other five have been shared between Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and George Russell. With the points system currently heavily weighted towards the winner it would need another driver to win most of the remaining Grand Prix to be in with a shout of the title.

 

 

 

Red Bull slump a concern

Even though Verstappen is conformable in this year’s drivers championship, questions are being asked about Red Bull’s likely competitiveness for 2025. Were the current run of results to continue there could be a six way battle for the title next year with four teams vying for the constructors’ title.

Earlier this season Verstappen hinted his contract which runs to 2028 may not be water tight and ever since Toto Wolff has been publicly courting the world champion.

The Mercedes boss at this year’s Austrian GP refuted the fact that Verstappen had definitely committed to remain with Red Bull for 2025 suggesting they were keeping Hamilton’s vacant seat open as long as possible should Max decide to leave Red Bull Racing.

“I’ve said it a lot recently: Max is the best driver at the moment, and everyone who has the chance would like to have Max in their car. Ola (Källenius, Mercedes CEO) sees it the same way,” claimed Wolff to OE24.

Questions surface over Bearman’s readiness for F1

 

 

 

Aston Martin F1 attraction

With recent reports that Adrian Newey has signed to join Aston Martin for in preparation for the 2026 big rule changes, rumours have emerged linking Verstappen to a reunion with the guru F1 engineer. Honda who have powered Max to his three world titles will then partner with the Silverstone based team which makes them a doubly attractive proposition.

Meanwhile Red Bull Racing are attempting for 2026 something no other team has ever achieved in the history of the sport. As a non-road car manufacturer, the team from Milton Keynes will build their own power units, one of the complex ever conceived in motorsport in the guise of the new V6 turbo hybrid powertrains.

Now speaking to Formula.hu, Verstappen considers the huge changes which are coming to Formula One.“I would have to say that in some places the cars might be a little bit slower in terms of lap times, but I would also have to say that when new rules come in it’s always difficult to predict whether the impact will be positive or negative.

“Personally, I prefer to take a middle position and say let’s wait and see what happens. I was the same way with the current rules, watching: is this going to be good, is this going to be bad?

“Fortunately for me, it worked out very well as the team became competitive, but with the new rules you really never know…”

Reports: Schumacher to Audi

 

 

 

F1 2026 rules change everything 

Its fair to say the changes are indeed monumental. The power units will be revolutionised with three times more electrical power. The cars will have a smaller footprint and active aero components way over and above the capabilities of the current DRS.

So as much as Toto reminds Verstappen of the incredible success Mercedes had at the last power unit regulation revolution, so much is uncertain any number of teams could come out on top in 2026 having aced their own unique interpretations.

This uncertainty has played into Red. Bull’s hands because Mercedes are no longer ablate outspend the rest on their new power unit R&D due to new FIA resource restrictions and Christian Horner recently claimed he had recruited some 200 employees who worked on the 2014 Mercedes power unit project.

Asked by formula.hu whether he believes he would be better leaving Red Bull for Mercedes or Aston Martin, Verstappen played it cool.

Hamilton finally admits he was slow to change his driving style

 

 

 

Loyalty a primary concern

“I think the most important thing is not to make decisions based on emotion, because that will always get you back,” he said. “I’m a patient person myself, I don’t over-worry things.

“Of course it means a lot and I appreciate the fact that I have a very long history with the team. Loyalty is very important and I think it is not always there in F1.

Max talks of the mutual loyalty between Red Bull and himself and of the astonishing new undertaking of the engine project.

“Fortunately in my case, it is there and I think it is mutual for us. Key people stay with the team and now we have our own engine project.

“How is it going? I’m very confident, but we have to be realistic. We have to fight against people who have been making engines for over a hundred years. They have a lot of experience, but of course we have also signed a lot of people.”

Announcement: Hamilton’s replacement

 

 

 

Max commits two more years to Red Bull

Verstappen pretty much commits himself to Red Bull until he can review the success or failure of the Red Bull 2026 car and power train design.

“A lot of things have to stay together or come together and I also have to think about the future, what will happen after 2026. So I am patient.”

The chances are Red Bull will improve their struggling RB20 and will challenge for titles next season are probable and nobody knows how 2026 will unfold. Were Red Bull to be beaten in 2026, Max believes the best F1 team would want him for the following year and so his view until then is entirely pragmatic.

Hamilton’s sucessor breaks silence on Wolff

 

 

 

Its going to be “very difficult” to help Perez, admits Red Bull boss

Sergio Perez is now in his fourth season with Red Bull Racing and tenure with the world champion F1 team has been mixed at best. The Mexican driver claimed his maiden F1 victory during the Covid stricken season when at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix he took the lead from Esteban Ocon with just over 20 laps remaining.

Since his arrival at Red Bull the following season as the replacement for the outgoing Alex Albon, Checo was won five Grand Prix with his first coming at the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

This year of course saw the titanic battle between his team mate and Lewis Hamilton for the drivers title which famously was won on the last lap of the last race of the year. While Verstappen was basking in the glory of his first championship, Red Bull lost out to Mercedes in the constructors’ title race that season due to Perez’s inability to match the performances of Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes number two driver… READ MORE