Lando Norris
McLaren
Mercedes
Red Bull
Ferrari
Williams
Racing Bulls
Aston Martin
Haas
Alpine
Red Bull Racing are in danger of slipping into Formula 1’s midfield this season, and are doing everything they can to try and make up that deficit to Mercedes and Ferrari.
It’s been a tricky start to 2026 for Red Bull and Max Verstappen as they try to adapt to Formula 1’s new regulations.
Reliability issues have plagued Laurent Mekies’ team so far this year, with Verstappen forced to retire from the Chinese Grand Prix, and Isack Hadjar’s race in Melbourne ruined by a power unit issue after qualifying on the second row.
Would Max Verstappen be complaining about F1’s 2026 regulations if he had joined Mercedes?
Verstappen is having serious issues at race starts and is becoming increasingly frustrated in the media with the style of racing these new cars require and his lack of competitiveness.
Journalist Jacky Martens has shared more details about what Red Bull are doing behind closed doors to try and combat their difficult start to 2026, although rivals Ferrari and Mercedes are being less than helpful when it comes to aiding their efforts.
READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend
Ferrari and Mercedes ‘totally against’ Red Bull’s proposed changes to the 2026 F1 regulations
Martens was speaking on the Paddock Access Podcast about Mercedes fighting to keep their supremacy, and he said: “The same goes for Fred Vasseur; it makes sense that he’s a happy man like Toto Wolff. I mean, they are in a good place at the moment.
“And this is an interesting topic. Behind the scenes, talks are ongoing between FOM (Formula One Management) and the FIA and all of the manufacturers because it’s very obvious that there are a few teams who want changes in those regulations.
“It’s Red Bull, it’s Audi, and it’s also Honda. They want changes quickly, and they need four teams; they need four manufacturers on one side, and that’s not the case at the moment because Ferrari and Mercedes are totally against any changes, especially on such short notice.
“It’s going to be very interesting to see how that works out.”
Is Toto Wolff planting the seeds for poaching Max Verstappen from Red Bull? 🤔
Verstappen has put ‘options on the table’ for the FIA to improve the quality of racing in Formula 1, although the sporting organisation believe it’s far too early to make sweeping changes.
This will only increase speculation about the Dutchman’s future, and Martens has suggested that both he and Fernando Alonso are unhappier now than ever before in their F1 careers.
READ MORE: All you need to know about Red Bull Racing from engine to Ford links
Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso equally unhappy with Formula 1 regulations
Sharing more information about how the two world champions are feeling at this stage of the campaign, Martens said: “We know that Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen are close friends; they share the same opinion quite often.
“But, to be honest, I’ve never seen both of them this unhappy in their whole careers in Formula 1.
“We’re talking about six world titles here, and I think if Formula 1 wants to keep those two diamonds because that’s what they are for the sport.
“If Formula 1 wants to keep them, I think they have to start listening to the drivers as well.
“Obviously, Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso, they don’t have to decide everything, but I think it is in the benefit of Formula 1 to listen carefully to the drivers, especially when it’s drivers of this calibre.”
Red Bull appear to have an underlying downforce issue that is making it impossible for Verstappen to challenge Mercedes and Ferrari.
It’s hard to say how far off the pace Verstappen is compared to McLaren when you take into account his disastrous starts and their double DNS in China, but if Red Bull are at best the fourth-strongest team on the grid, then the 28-year-old’s patience is going to quickly run out.
Receive exclusive F1 news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
