Overview

• Max Verstappen says he is focused on 2026 and calls for a small reconstruction at Red Bull, while advisor Helmut Marko says the driver could reconsider staying if the team is not competitive next year.
• Red Bull enters the reset after a turbulent midseason that included Christian Horner’s exit and Adrian Newey’s departure, as the team prepares to run Ford-badged power units under the new rules.
• McLaren remains the 2025 benchmark with Oscar Piastri on six wins and Lando Norris on five, leaving Verstappen 97 points off the lead and Red Bull far behind in the constructors’ standings.
• Sebastian Vettel questions the 2026 decision to recover energy only on the rear axle, saying he does not understand omitting the front axle in the hybrid system.
• Alpine has paused in-season upgrades to concentrate on 2026, with Pierre Gasly warning there will be no miracle this year and Franco Colapinto’s 2026 seat still unconfirmed as he runs race by race in 2025.