The countdown to the 2026 F1 season is already creating a lot of anticipation. However, that tension is at its peak inside the Red Bull Racing garage. As the sport prepares for one of the biggest regulation changes in modern history, questions are being asked about who will adapt fastest and who could be left chasing.
Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert believes the stakes could not be higher for Red Bull especially when it comes to keeping Max Verstappen in the team.
Red Bull Cannot Miss the Mark in 2026
Verstappen is a multiple-time world champion and the face of Red Bull’s modern dominance. For the first time in years, there is genuine uncertainty over whether his team will start a new era on the front foot. Herbert has made it clear that if Red Bull fails to deliver a truly competitive car in 2026, the consequences could be severe.
The 2026 season brings a complete reset in terms of new power units, revised aerodynamics and lighter cars. Red Bull are taking on an even bigger challenge by debuting their own in-house engine project through Red Bull Powertrains in partnership with Ford.
Early signs from the private Barcelona shakedown were mixed as on one hand, the energy drink giant avoided major reliability scares when it came to their brand-new power unit. On the other hand, their running was disrupted after a crash involving rookie Isack Hadjar which further delayed parts of the test plan.
Meanwhile, Mercedes impressed many observers by completing around 500 laps in Barcelona and proving their strong early reliability. While outright pace remains unknown, that level of trouble-free running has already fueled speculation that Mercedes could be well ahead of everyone when the lights go out in Melbourne.
Herbert believes that challenging for wins will not be enough and in his view, Verstappen needs a car capable of consistently beating rivals like Mercedes. He said, “Challenging is one thing, you’ve got to beat the likes of, say, Mercedes, for example…If they don’t, then he’s going to look elsewhere, because that’s what racing drivers do.”
“He’s not there to finish second. His core mentality is to win, and when he doesn’t win, he gets very annoyed,” he further admitted.
Max Verstappen and the Pressure to Always Win
Herbert pointed out that Verstappen shares ruthless mindset with other top drivers such as Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, and George Russell as they all measure success in wins and titles, not podiums or finishing second. That mentality is why Verstappen has already been linked with Mercedes over the past two seasons even if no move has ever materialized yet.
Although Verstappen has said that he would like to spend his entire F1 career with one team, he has also been realistic and if Red Bull cannot give him the tools to fight for championships under the new rules, difficult conversations will have to follow. Herbert stressed that drivers constantly evaluate what will help them win their next title especially during major regulation changes.
Team boss Laurent Mekies has already admitted that sticking with the team through 2026 is a risk for Verstappen and that reflects just how challenging this transition will be.
As pre-season testing in Bahrain approaches and the Australian Grand Prix draws closer, all eyes will be on the Austrian team’s progress and their early performance may shape the long-term future of the sport’s biggest star in the modern era.
