Red Bull plot ‘last-ditch effort’ to convince Max Verstappen to stay at the Austrian Grand Prix

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Red Bull are set to introduce what the team are describing as their biggest upgrade in years at the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix in their bid to convince Max Verstappen to stay.

Verstappen is under contract to Red Bull through the 2028 season, but he has created doubt over even being in Milton Keynes in 2027 due to his frustrating start to F1’s 2026 regulations era. A release clause in the Dutchman’s terms could also make an early departure very likely.

It is widely acknowledged in the F1 paddock that Verstappen will only have to start the 2026 summer break ranked outside the top two in the drivers’ standings for him to have the right to leave Red Bull. At present, the 28-year-old is only seventh and is 60 points shy of second.

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Red Bull believe their Austrian Grand Prix upgrades will be crucial to Max Verstappen’s future

Red Bull are desperate to keep Verstappen, and have even offered him a new contract in the hopes of preventing his premature departure. However, Verstappen rejected Red Bull’s offer of a new contract until 2032, as he does not want to commit with two years left on his deal.

READ MORE: How to watch the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix on TV, plus the weather forecast

The threat of Verstappen leaving at the end of the 2026 campaign remains very real for Red Bull, though. So, Blick now reports that Red Bull intend to introduce their ‘biggest update in years’ at the Austrian GP, as it is essentially the team’s ‘last-ditch effort’ to keep Verstappen.

Red Bull head home to the Austrian GP this weekend, knowing that uncertainty looms over their garage all the while that Verstappen will have from August until October to trigger his release clause. Blick notes that the Singapore Grand Prix is the deadline for the exit clause.

But while Verstappen’s deadline is 15 weeks away, Red Bull know they really only have until July 26 to convince the Dutchman to stay. So, Red Bull intend to hit the Austrian GP with an upgrade package that is as effective as Ferrari’s vast update package debuted in Barcelona.

Red Bull hope to finally hit the minimum 2026 F1 car weight at the Austrian GP

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Ferrari overhauled the SF-26 in Barcelona with upgrades from front to rear, which combined to give Lewis Hamilton a car in which he could score his first Grand Prix win in red. The pride of Italy debuted a new front wing, nosecone, sidepods, floor, engine cover and rear diffuser.

It remains to be seen what Red Bull now reveal at the Austrian GP amid their desperate bid to convince Verstappen to commit. While Blick notes that the team describe it as a massive update, Laurent Mekies admits Red Bull know their Austrian GP upgrades are “not enough”.

The primary focus of Red Bull’s upgrades at the Austrian GP are to reduce the weight of the RB22, per Pit Lance Chronicle. It is the second part of an upgrade plan they began in Miami, and it is hoped to get the RB22 to the minimum 768kg weight limit by saving another 6-7kg.

Red Bull are understood to view their upgrade package as ‘season-defining’, given the effect that it could have on Verstappen’s future. Having an overweight car throughout the first leg of the season has often left the four-time champion cut adrift from the fight for the podium.