As focus returns to his return to F1 in Miami, there will also be particular focus on Max Verstappen, who revealed a month ago that he is considering his future in the sport.
Verstappen has been a vocal critic of F1’s new 2026 regulations, which have introduced a different driving and racing style while preventing Red Bull from competing at the front of the field.
In the five weeks between the final race in Japan and this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix, F1 tweaked power unit regulations to address some of the concerns of drivers, including Verstappen.
Also this month, Verstappen’s race engineer Giampiero Lambiase surprisingly revealed that he plans to leave Red Bull to join McLaren by 2028 at the latest.
Verstappen would have known the news before it was announced, but it is an additional factor to consider, with the Dutchman no doubt being asked for an update on his future at Thursday’s media day in Miami, and the performance of Red Bull’s car this weekend could also bode well.
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A look back at Max Verstappen’s disappointing start to the 2026 F1 season
Will Lambiase’s departure affect Verstappen’s decision?
Verstappen previously said after winning his first world title in 2021 that he would quit racing in F1 if Lambiase were not his engineer.
Of course things could change, but it would be incredibly difficult to recreate a relationship like the marriage between Verstappen and Lambiase.
Red Bull say Lambiase will remain with the team until the end of 2027, but McLaren wants to sign the 45-year-old sooner. Verstappen’s contract with Red Bull expires after the 2028 season, but Sky Sports News understands there is a performance clause that would allow him to leave the club early.
Team principal Laurent Mequise said: “I speak to Max almost every day. He was fully aware of the discussions we were having with GP (Lambias) because A, because of his own relationship with GP and B, we are an open book.”
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Craig Slater explains what we know so far about Red Bull race engineer Giampiero Lambiase’s shock move to McLaren and how this could affect Max Verstappen’s future.
“We often say that Max is outside the project and not judging the project. He is inside with us. He was here yesterday and the day before in the simulator.
“In that respect, he understands very well that we have been through a long cycle together. We have a huge treasure trove of talent in our team and we have every opportunity to take it to an even stronger level.”
Lambius is the latest of a number of key Red Bull figures to have left the Milton Keynes-based team in recent years, including legendary designer Adrian Newey, long-time team principal Christian Horner, advisor Helmut Marko, current McLaren technical director Rob Marshall and former head of strategy Will Courtenay, who also joined McLaren as sporting director.
The big question for Verstappen is how he feels about another key member, and perhaps his most important member, leaving Red Bull.
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Jenson Button doesn’t believe Max Verstappen will take time off from Red Bull even after chief racing engineer Giampiero Lambiase moves to McLaren
Will F1’s regulation changes be enough to satisfy Verstappen?
According to Verstappen, regulations are the most important factor when it comes to his future, and Miami will give a strong clue that F1 has achieved enough.
“If I was going to win races, I would say the same thing, because I value the product of racing. It’s not about being upset about my position, because of course I’m actually fighting even more now,” Verstappen said after retiring from the second race of the season in China.
“It makes me more aware of what I have to do and what it is. To me, it’s really a joke.”
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Max Verstappen waves sarcastically at Pierre Gasly after being overtaken by an Alpine car at the Japanese Grand Prix
Verstappen and other drivers felt they could no longer push to the limit in qualifying, and some drivers were frustrated by the yo-yo style of racing, largely determined by deployment level.
F1 and the FIA held a series of meetings with teams this month and agreed to change elements of the power unit rules to enable “more stable flat-out driving”.
“The Max we’re seeing is a Max who’s working hard. He wants a fast car and he’s helping the team get a fast car,” Mekies said.
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Red Bull team principal Laurent Mequise jokes that Max Verstappen will “smile more” if Red Bull improves the car in the upcoming upgrade period.
“He’s committed to it. He’s passionate about this sport. Like you said, he spoke up when he felt things had to be done.
“It’s a step forward for the regulars heading into Miami. He’s accepted it. Is that enough? We have time to figure it out together if it’s enough.”
Not only will the 57-lap Grand Prix be held on Sunday, but the 19-lap sprint in Miami on Saturday will also show whether we see the same type of racing that took place in the opening three races.
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David Croft and Martin Brundle discuss whether Max Verstappen’s threat to quit F1 is empty
Brundle: Verstappen wants to see what happens with the Red Bull car
Red Bull will be one of several teams bringing major upgrades to Miami to close the gap on Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren.
Verstappen finished 32 seconds behind winner Kimi Antonelli, but the safety car was brought in midway through the race, so had the race been held under green flag conditions, the gap between the leaders Mercedes and Red Bull could have been more than a minute.
Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle said: “Max has made it clear that he wants to see how the car goes. The car itself is struggling a little bit because the power unit is very good.”
“Max will want to make sure they adhere to these regulations and stay on top of the car throughout the middle of the season.”
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Martin Brundle believes that if Max Verstappen decides to leave Red Bull he may “struggle” to find a new team at the front of the field due to the level of other teams’ drivers
Despite building their own power unit for the first time, Red Bull Ford’s engine is competitive, but its current weaknesses are aerodynamics and chassis.
Verstappen went into the final race in Japan with new sidepods, floor and engine cover, but failed to qualify to teammate Isak Hajjar, suggesting the upgrades had not worked.
Since mid-2024, Red Bull have generally been behind McLaren, but suddenly at the end of last year they found something that allowed Verstappen to nearly edge Lando Norris to the drivers’ title.
The team needs to prove it can find a similar trajectory for Verstappen this season. Otherwise, the star driver’s frustration will only increase.
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Max Verstappen explains overtaking in a GT3 car
“We know that the priority is to give him a car that he can push, and this has nothing to do with the regulations so much. We knew in the first three races that we gave him and Isaac a very difficult car, and we need to give him a car that he can push consistently,” Mekies said.
“Then it doesn’t mean it will be fast enough to get a position, but it does mean he can start to reach max effect and we can start developing that car.”
“And while the situation in Miami may not be resolved, I’m confident that the team will fundamentally resolve the things that are limiting us just like they did last year, and you’ll see more and more smiles on Max’s face.”
This Friday, Formula 1 returns with the Miami Grand Prix, the second sprint weekend of the season, to be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports now – cancel anytime with no contract
