The spotlight is shifting back to the Formula One calendar as the series heads to Miami, but this weekend’s attention will also be fixed on Max Verstappen after the Dutch champion hinted a month ago that he is weighing his long‑term options in the sport. Verstappen has not shied away from voicing his displeasure with the new 2026 technical regulations, which have altered the character of the cars and, consequently, the way races unfold. His criticism comes at a time when Red Bull has struggled to dominate the front of the grid as it once did.
In the five‑week lull between the Japanese Grand Prix and the Miami event, the FIA and the sport’s commercial rights holders have tweaked the power‑unit rules in an attempt to answer some of the drivers’ grievances – Verstappen’s among them. The adjustments are aimed at delivering more consistent, full‑throttle driving rather than the stop‑start, deployment‑heavy racing many have described as a "yo‑yo" experience. Adding another layer of intrigue, Verstappen’s race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, announced this month that he will depart Red Bull for a role at McLaren no later than 2028. While Verstappen was likely aware of the impending move before it became public, the news introduces a fresh variable into the conversation about his future.
Journalists will undoubtedly press the Dutchman on the subject during Miami’s media day on Thursday, and the performance of the Red Bull car on the streets of Miami could provide a tangible clue about his satisfaction with the team’s direction. Verstappen has previously warned that, after clinching his first world championship in 2021, he would consider leaving Formula 1 if Lambiase were not his engineer. Although circumstances evolve and relationships can adapt, the bond between driver and engineer is often compared to a marriage – difficult to replicate with a new partner.
Red Bull has confirmed that Lambiase will stay with the squad until the end of 2027, but McLaren is reportedly eager to bring the 45‑year‑old on board sooner. Meanwhile, Verstappen’s own contract runs out after the 2028 season, yet Sky Sports has learned that performance‑related clauses could allow an earlier exit if the competitive environment does not meet his expectations. Team principal Laurent Mekies has been candid about the ongoing dialogue with Verstappen.
He explained, "We speak almost daily with Max. He fully understands the depth of the discussions we are having about Gianpiero. Because of his relationship with GP and because we operate with complete transparency, Max knows exactly where we stand." Mekies added that Verstappen is not an outsider to the project; rather, he is deeply embedded, spending extensive time in the simulator and contributing to the development cycle.
"We have a massive pool of talent within the team and every opportunity to elevate the car to a stronger level," Mekies said. Lambiase’s departure follows a recent exodus of key Red Bull personnel, including legendary designer Adrian Newey, long‑time team principal Christian Horner, advisor Helmut Marko, and now former strategy chief Will Courtenay, who has also moved to McLaren as sporting director.
The cumulative loss of such influential figures raises the question of how Verstappen will react to yet another significant departure, especially one that could directly affect his performance on track. For Verstappen, the regulatory landscape remains the primary factor in any decision about his future.
He believes that the Miami weekend will reveal whether the sport has taken sufficient steps to address his concerns. After retiring from the second race of the season in China, he remarked, "If I were still winning races, I would still care about the racing product. It’s not about being upset with where I am; I’m actually fighting harder now.
So you understand what you have to do and what it’s really about. For me, it’s a joke." Many drivers, Verstappen included, have expressed frustration that the current rules limit their ability to push to the absolute limit in qualifying, and that race outcomes are heavily influenced by the level of power‑unit deployment. In response, Formula One and the FIA have held a series of meetings with the teams, agreeing to modify certain aspects of the power‑unit regulations to encourage "more consistent flat‑out driving." Mekies praised Verstappen’s commitment, stating, "The Max we see is a fully committed Max.
He wants a fast car and he’s helping the team get a fast car. He’s pouring all his energy into that. He’s passionate about the sport and he isn’t shy about raising his voice when he feels things need to change. We have a step forward in the regulations coming for Miami, and he’s embracing that.
Will it be enough? Time will tell." Miami will host not only a 57‑lap Grand Prix on Sunday but also a 19‑lap Sprint on Saturday, offering a quick gauge of whether the race‑craft seen in the opening three rounds of the season will return.
Red Bull is expected to bring substantial upgrades to the circuit, aiming to close the performance gap to Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren. In the previous race, Verstappen finished 32 seconds behind the winner, Kimi Antonelli, though a mid‑race safety‑car period meant the gap between the leading Mercedes and Red Bull would likely have exceeded a minute under uninterrupted green‑flag conditions. Sky Sports F1 analyst Martin Brundle noted, "Max has made it clear he wants to see how the car evolves. The power unit has been impressive, but the chassis and aerodynamics are still lagging." Although Red Bull’s partnership with Ford has produced a competitive power unit, the team’s aerodynamic package and chassis balance remain points of weakness.
Verstappen trialled new side‑pods, a revised floor and an updated engine cover at the Japanese Grand Prix, yet he was out‑qualified by teammate Isack Hadjar, suggesting the upgrades did not deliver the expected gains. Since mid‑2024, Red Bull has often been out‑developed by McLaren, but a late‑season breakthrough last year allowed Verstappen to narrowly miss out on the drivers’ championship to Lando Norris. The team now faces the challenge of replicating that upward trajectory this season; failure to do so could amplify Verstappen’s frustration. Mekies concluded, "Our priority is to give Max a car he can push hard with.
The early races gave him a very difficult platform, and we need to provide a machine he can consistently extract performance from. It may not be fast enough for podiums immediately, but it must allow him to unleash his ‘Max effect’ and build development from there.
I’m confident we’ll identify the limiting factors before Miami and, as we did last year, turn those into smiles on Max’s face." Formula One returns this Friday with the Miami Grand Prix, marking the second Sprint weekend of the season, broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. Viewers can stream the coverage via NOW, with no contract required and the ability to cancel at any time.