Max Verstappen has already sent Red Bull a warning about being stuck in F1’s ‘midfield’ in 2026

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Red Bull and Max Verstappen could be about to face some really testing times in 2026. It could end up being like nothing they have experienced before.

Right now, competing for the drivers’ championship feels like a bit of an afterthought. First, the team must get the reliability of their new car in line with competitors, then they can chase performance.

At the age of 28, they need to be wary of wasting some of Verstappen’s best remaining years in Formula 1. He deserved to win another title in 2025 and was unfortunate to miss out.

The new challenge for Red Bull is making their own engines. They don’t have prior experiences to turn to if things go wrong. It’ll end up being a steep learning curve.

Would Max Verstappen’s level drop if he left Red Bull?

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Red Bull hiring Honda engineers could be key if they want to be competitive from day one. They’ll bring some sort of expertise, albeit under a different set of regulations.

Fortunately, Damon Hill believes that Verstappen is in no rush to leave Red Bull. Even if they do struggle, he’ll stick by their side out of loyalty. There’s no guarantee that rumours will stop, though.

READ MORE: Isack Hadjar reveals what he’s desperate to learn from Max Verstappen at Red Bull in 2026

Max Verstappen sent Red Bull a ‘midfield’ warning about the 2026 F1 season

Red Bull plan ‘intense’ aero upgrades in a bid to combat the expected strength of their rivals in the engine department over the coming season.

They showed at the back end of 2025 that they could bring parts to their car that could really have an effect. Most importantly, they need to turn up at pre-season testing and complete some race runs.

Verstappen would never want to join Mercedes, according to Tom Coronel, who believes that his allegiance to Red Bull runs deeply.

But as little as three years ago, he sent his team a stark warning about the potential of being stuck in the midfield for 2026. He knew that there was a risk they could fall behind.

“But indeed, I don’t see myself touring around in [the] midfield for three years,” he told De Telegraaf. “Then I would rather stay at home or do something else. But again: I don’t see that happening.”

Resting on their laurels won’t be an option. If they start the campaign a bit behind everyone else, then the pressure will be on at Milton Keynes to bring everything back up to standard.

READ MORE: Honda president shares his stance on bringing Max Verstappen from Red Bull to Aston Martin

Is Max Verstappen still considered a favourite for the 2026 F1 title?

Before seeing the cars in testing, which is just under two weeks away, it’s hard to predict what the running order might look like.

Even then, the first five days of 2026 running will be behind closed doors, and focusing almost entirely on reliability over performance.

James Hinchcliffe doesn’t believe Verstappen is a contender, but he probably has more work to do than anyone else on the grid.

Although he has no obligation to, he will probably need to help his relatively inexperienced teammate learn how to drive a new car, how to develop it, as well as the engine in the back. It’s a very tall order.