Although Max Verstappen is considered by many to be the best driver on the current Formula 1 grid, journalist David Croft believes that Red Bull Racing is not currently in the leading position for the 2026 season. Based on pre-season testing, Croft ranked the Milton Keynes team as the fourth best, behind Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari.
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Despite Verstappen being considered by Croft ‘the best on the grid’, the team would still face challenges if it wanted to win the championship this year: “For Red Bull to truly fight for the title, it will need two Maxes,” stated the Sky F1 commentator, referring to the performance of Verstappen’s new teammate, Isack Hadjar, who was 2.3 seconds behind Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari time during pre-season testing in Bahrain, highlighting difficulties in adapting to the car.
This situation for Red Bull is even more uncertain due to testing variables, such as engine modes, fuel loads, and program strategies that may have influenced lap times. With the debut of the new engine regulations and overtaking modes, teams still have much to adjust before the start of the season in Melbourne.
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For Croft, Verstappen is unbeatable when he is at his best, as demonstrated in 2025, especially at the Japanese GP, when the Red Bull driver outperformed opponents with a car that was not the fastest on the grid: “Max has a unique ability to understand what he needs to do at every moment, and he does everything to ensure he will dominate,” Croft concluded, highlighting the Dutch driver’s incomparable talent.
With an unpredictable start to the season, the continuous development of the cars will be crucial, and Red Bull needs a great performance from both drivers to remain competitive.
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