Overview

• Before the summer break, Max Verstappen said he will remain with Red Bull next season and is focused on helping the team interpret the 2026 regulations.
• Helmut Marko acknowledged a performance-linked exit mechanism and said Verstappen could reconsider his stance if the 2026 car proves uncompetitive.
• Red Bull plans its first Newey-less design for 2026 and will run a Ford power unit through the Red Bull Powertrains partnership.
• Marko said Red Bull will review its driver roster after the summer pause, with no final decisions yet on the second seat for 2026.
• Beyond Red Bull, the 2026 driver market remains unsettled, with Alpine keeping Franco Colapinto on a race-by-race deal for 2025 and his 2026 status undecided.