Max Verstappen warns Red Bull of retirement if they don’t have a competitive car in 2026

Verstappen will be aiming to take his ninth consecutive victory in Zandvoort on 30th August.

Max Verstappen warns Red Bull of retirement if they don’t have a competitive car in 2026

Max Verstappen (Credits: PlanetF1)

Max Verstappen has become the face of Formula One with his unmatched dominance. With a 125-point lead over his second-place teammate Sergio Perez, he is well on his way to a third championship title. As he sits alone at the top, Verstappen seems to have gotten used to it, as he has recently revealed that he would rather retire than race in an uncompetitive car in 2026.

Verstappen has said that it is very unlikely that Red Bull would fall that far behind. He said that if this happens, it would mean that the team is not functioning well. He made it clear that in this scenario, he would not toil around in the middle order struggling for the points, and would stay at home and engage himself in some other activity.

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 It must be very bad and dramatic… It can always be the case in this sport that you are not doing well as a team…  I don’t see myself touring around in midfield for three years. Then I would rather stay at home or do something else. But again: I don’t see that happening,” Verstappen told De Telegraff.

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Ex-Le Mans winner names the ideal candidate for being Max Verstappen’s teammate

Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas
Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas (Credits: www.bd.nl)

The uncertainty revolving around Red Bull’s second driver is a hot topic in F1 circles at the moment. Although the team has repeatedly claimed that Perez will see out the final year of his contract in 2024, the Mexican’s inconsistent run has left a lot of speculation. From Daniel Ricciardo to Lando Norris, many have been linked to the place. Recently, former Le Mans winner Richard Bradley has revealed his ideal choice for Max Verstappen’s teammate.

Bradley believes Alfa Romeo and former Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas would be the perfect choice for Red Bull. Bottas proved to be a valuable teammate to Lewis Hamilton during his dominant years. While he did not challenge Hamilton for the title, he always performed well. Bottas qualified for Q3 in every qualifying for Mercedes he was in.

Bradley said Bottas always kept Hamilton on his toes, unlike Sergio Perez with Verstappen in the current situation. Bradley believes this is the only requirement from the number two driver, and Bottas can provide it.

“He [Bottas] was more than good enough on his day to give Lewis a run for his money and kept him on his toes… That’s what you want from your number two driver. Of course, you want them to think that they can beat the number one, because that pushes them, and Bottas was able to do that in situations,” Bradley said on the On Track GP Podcast.

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