Max Verstappen told 2026 is ‘cancelled’ as engine fears aren’t the only thing Red Bull ‘simply don’t have’

Follow us on Google Discover

Max Verstappen looks set to see his reign as the F1 drivers’ champion end this season and might not even return to the top with the 2026 regulations if he stays at Red Bull.

The Dutchman’s future is once again in the headlines, despite him being under contract with Red Bull through the 2028 season, as Verstappen bids to secure the best seat on the grid he can find. While the 27-year-old wants to stay loyal, he puts competitiveness above anything.

Verstappen has been with Red Bull since he joined their driver academy in 2014. He has also won all four of his F1 drivers’ championship titles, 65 Grands Prix, 44 pole positions and 117 podiums since stepping up from their sister outfit Toro Rosso to replace Daniil Kvyat in 2016.

But loyalty only lasts so long, and it is said that Verstappen has provisionally agreed a deal to join Mercedes in 2026 if he decides to activate an exit clause in his contract. Verstappen can leave Red Bull if the Dutchman sits outside the top three in the 2025 standings this summer.

Tom Coronel warns Max Verstappen that 2026 is ‘cancelled’ due to Red Bull’s wind tunnel

Verstappen would be betting on Red Bull bouncing back if he stays in Milton Keynes in 2026, with the Belgium-born driver 69 points adrift in the standings and only 18 clear of Mercedes racer George Russell in fourth place. Red Bull are even fourth in the constructors’ standings.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about F1’s 2026 engine and chassis regulations

But Tom Coronel fears next season is already ‘cancelled’ for Red Bull, as they will struggle to design a competitive car for the 2026 F1 regulations due to having an outdated wind tunnel. They have one of the oldest wind tunnels in F1 as Red Bull’s current unit is over 70 years old.

He told RacingNews365: “The first problem is that they have a wind tunnel that is currently too old. I think that’s simply key, especially now that aerodynamics will play a slightly more important role than it always has because the floor is obviously very important.

“Then you need a wind tunnel with a rolling floor underneath and good airflow, and only then can you put the finishing touches on it. And that’s what Red Bull simply don’t have.

“Then you start running all sorts of simulations, coming up with ideas and trying things out. You see a bit of panic developing, and then you start shooting haphazardly. Yes, then you miss more often than you hit. That’s essentially what you see with Red Bull.

“There’s a new wind tunnel coming, which always involves a bit of a delay, of course. Let’s say it can be completed in April or May, [so] next year, 2026, that’s also cancelled. After that, you can grow again anyway, no problem.”

Red Bull’s new wind tunnel will not help overcome deficits due to their 2026 rules engine

Sacked Red Bull team principal Christian Horner once described the team’s wind tunnel near Bedford as a ‘Cold War relic’. So, the Briton oversaw the start of a new wind tunnel based at their Milton Keynes factory that Red Bull hope will be ready towards the middle of next year.

But it will do Red Bull no favours designing their car for the 2026 regulations, which they are not expected to capitalise on given the team are creating their own engine for the first time. Horner also established Red Bull Powertrains to produce their engine after Honda withdrew.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Red Bull Racing from engine to Ford links

While Honda later opted to remain in F1 as an engine partner for Aston Martin, Red Bull will design their power unit in-house in partnership with Ford. Yet, in part owing to it being their first in-house unit, Red Bull are expected to produce one of the worst 2026 F1 rules engines.

In contrast, Verstappen believes Mercedes will have the best 2026 F1 rules engine and it is a view widely held among the F1 paddock. So, Red Bull will need to maximise the new chassis regulations to possibly overcome their engine, which will be tough with an old wind tunnel.