During the 2026 Dutch GP, it was announced that Max Verstappen decided to stay with Red Bull until the end of 2030, even in the current scenario, where the team is trying to find answers for one of the most difficult seasons in its recent Formula 1 history. The four-time world champion has not won this year and, after the race in Zandvoort, has not triumphed since the 2025 Abu Dhabi GP. That makes 12 race weekends without stepping onto the top podium spot.
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The moment also exposes the difficulty faced by Red Bull. The 2026 car is the fourth force in the championship, behind Ferrari and McLaren and, mainly, Mercedes, which continues to lead the drivers’ and constructors’ battles. Despite this, the Red Bull-Ford power unit was considered the performance benchmark among the internal combustion engines evaluated by the FIA (International Automobile Federation).
This fact created a problem: the team did not receive additional opportunities for engine upgrades. Mercedes, Ferrari, Audi, and Honda, which showed inferior performance in the evaluations provided by the additional development mechanism and upgrade opportunities, were authorized to carry out new developments.
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Even with the current limitations, Verstappen managed to reach the podium in four different races this season, but victory remains out of reach. At the Dutch GP, his home race and the last held in Zandvoort, Verstappen did not even finish the race after retiring, while Lando Norris won ahead of the Mercedes duo formed by Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. The result keeps the Dutchman in sixth place in the drivers’ championship, 130 points behind Antonelli.
The winless streak is not the longest in Verstappen’s career. The first major dry spell happened between the 2016 Monaco GP and the 2017 Malaysian GP. It was 30 races until the Dutchman returned to the top step of the podium. The next opportunity will come at the Italian GP in Monza, scheduled for September 6.
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