As the Formula 1 calendar pivots back to the sun‑drenched streets of Miami, all eyes will be on the sport’s reigning champion, Max Verstappen, after the Dutch driver hinted a month ago that he is weighing his long‑term options. Verstappen has not shied away from voicing his displeasure with the new 2026 rulebook, which has forced teams to adopt a different style of car and altered the way races unfold.
The changes have, in his view, dulled the excitement of qualifying and limited the ability of drivers to push the limits, while 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 upcoming Miami event, the FIA and the commercial rights holders have tweaked the power‑unit regulations in an attempt to address some of the drivers’ complaints – Verstappen’s among them. The adjustments aim to bring back more consistent, flat‑out driving by curbing the reliance on energy‑recovery deployment that has produced a "yo‑yo" style of racing. Adding another layer of intrigue, Verstappen’s race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, surprised the paddock earlier this month by announcing his intention to leave Red Bull and join McLaren no later than 2028.
While Verstappen was likely aware of Lambiase’s plans before the public disclosure, the news injects a fresh variable into the conversation about his future. During media day on Thursday in Miami, journalists will undoubtedly press the Dutchman on the latest developments, and the performance of the Red Bull car over the weekend could serve as a litmus test for his satisfaction. Verstappen has previously warned that he would consider stepping away from Formula 1 if Lambiase were not his engineer, a statement he made after clinching his first world championship in 2021. Though circumstances evolve, the bond between driver and engineer has been described as "marriage‑like," and replicating that chemistry elsewhere would be a daunting task.
Red Bull has confirmed that Lambiase will remain with the team until the end of 2027, but McLaren is reportedly pushing for an earlier arrival. Verstappen’s own contract runs through the end of the 2028 season, yet Sky Sports News reports that performance‑related clauses could enable an earlier exit if the competitive picture deteriorates.
Team principal Laurent Mekies offered insight during a recent press briefing: "We speak with Max almost daily. He fully understands the depth of our discussions with Gianpiero.
Because of his relationship with him and because we operate with full transparency, Max knows exactly where we stand. He is not outside the project; he is very much inside it. He was in the simulator yesterday and the day before, and he recognises the long cycle we have shared.
We have a massive talent pool and the chance to elevate the car to an even higher level." Lambiase is the latest high‑profile Red Bull figure to depart the Milton Keynes headquarters, joining a list that includes legendary designer Adrian Newey, long‑time team principal Christian Horner, advisor Helmut Marko, former McLaren technical director Rob Marshall, and former head of strategy Will Courtenay, who now serves as McLaren’s sporting director. The looming question for Verstappen is how he will react to the loss of yet another key member of the operation, especially one he has identified as crucial to his success. For Verstappen, the technical regulations remain the dominant factor in any decision about his future, and the Miami weekend should provide a clear signal as to whether the sport has delivered enough change. "I would say the same if I were winning races, because I care about the racing product.
It's not about being upset with where I am; I'm actually fighting harder now," he said after retiring from the second round of the season in China. "You understand what you have to do and what the sport is about even more.
For me, it's a bit of a joke." Many drivers, including Verstappen, have expressed frustration that the current formula limits their ability to extract maximum performance in qualifying and that race outcomes are heavily influenced by deployment strategies rather than outright speed. In response, the FIA and the teams have convened a series of meetings this month and agreed to adjust elements of the power‑unit rules to foster "more consistent flat‑out driving." Mekies summed up the team's outlook: "The Max we see is a fully committed Max. He wants a fast car and he is helping us get a fast car.
He is pouring all his energy into that. He is passionate about the sport and, as you noted, he raised his voice when he felt things needed to be done. We have a step forward in the regulations coming for Miami, and he is embracing that. Will it be enough?
Time will tell." Miami will host a 57‑lap Grand Prix on Sunday and a 19‑lap Sprint on Saturday, offering a quick gauge of whether the revised rules are delivering the type of wheel‑to‑wheel action that characterised the opening three rounds of the season. Red Bull is expected to bring a suite of upgrades to the circuit as they attempt to close the performance gap to Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren. In the previous race, Verstappen finished 32 seconds behind race‑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 observed, "Max has made it clear he wants to see how the car evolves.
The power unit is impressive, but the chassis has been a bit of a struggle. Max will be watching closely throughout the mid‑season to ensure they stay on top of the regulations and the car." Red Bull’s in‑house power unit, built in partnership with Ford, has shown competitiveness, but aerodynamic efficiency and chassis balance remain the weak points.
Verstappen trialled new side‑pods, a revised floor and an updated engine cover at the Japanese Grand Prix, yet was out‑qualified by teammate Isack Hadjar, suggesting the upgrades did not deliver the expected gains. Since mid‑2024, McLaren has generally out‑developed Red Bull, but a late‑season breakthrough last year allowed Verstappen to narrowly miss out on the drivers' title to Lando Norris.
The team now faces the task of replicating that upward trajectory this season; failure to do so could amplify Verstappen’s frustration. Mekies reiterated the priority: "We are conscious that the first priority is to give Max a car he can push. The early races gave him and Isack a very difficult platform, and we need to provide a car he can consistently attack with.
It may not immediately translate into podiums, but it will allow him to unleash the 'Max effect' and give us a foundation for development. I am confident that, even if we are not perfect for Miami, the team will identify and eliminate the limiting factors as we did last year, and we will see more smiles on Max’s face." The Miami Grand Prix, the second Sprint weekend of the season, kicks off this Friday and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. Fans can stream the coverage via NOW, with the flexibility to cancel at any time.