Verstappen continues to build on impressive Formula 1 legacy with Red Bull in 2026
Max Verstappen confirmed officially on Thursday that he will continue to compete for Red Bull Racing in 2026. With this, he put an end to months of speculation for a potential move to Mercedes at the end of this Formula 1 season. A great moment to reflect on the many successes that Verstappen has already achieved with the Austrian team.
For many, it was clear at an early stage that Verstappen was a great talent. Both Mercedes and Red Bull tried to lure the Dutchman into their junior program, but in the end, it was Red Bull that succeeded. As a result, Verstappen joined the Red Bull Driver Academy in 2014, allowing him to make his Formula 1 debut during the first free practice at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix as a replacement for Jean-Éric Vergne at Toro Rosso.
With his performance in the first free practice, Verstappen immediately broke his first record, being the youngest driver ever to participate in a Formula 1 race weekend. His race debut came shortly after that. During the Australian Grand Prix in 2015, he made his debut at Toro Rosso, alongside Carlos Sainz Jr.
Dream Debut for Red Bull Racing
While Daniil Kvyat couldn't make an impact at Red Bull, Verstappen managed to impress at Toro Rosso. So it was decided in 2016, after just four races, to swap the drivers. Verstappen was allowed to take his place alongside Daniel Ricciardo from the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix onwards.
The switch turned out to have been a golden move made by Christian Horner and Dr. Helmut Marko, as Verstappen managed to win his first race with the Milton Keynes team immediately, largely due to a crash between the two Mercedes drivers who were together fighting for the title. The Dutchman thus set another record, namely that of the youngest winner of a Grand Prix.
The first world championship with Red Bull Racing
There were a number of difficult seasons in which Verstappen was consistently able to compete for victories and podium places, but in which he was not really able to play a leading role in the title fight - mainly due to ongoing reliability problems.
This all changed in 2021, when Red Bull suddenly appeared to be much more competitive. Verstappen got involved in a thrilling title fight with then-Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, which was only decided in the last round of the last race.
With ten victories and as many as eighteen podium places, Verstappen managed to claim his first title in Abu Dhabi 2021. Even though the victory was accompanied by some controversy, it did not spoil the fun. For the first time, the Netherlands had a Formula 1 champion of its own.
Honda, as engine supplier, originally intended to leave Formula 1 at the end of 2021. But in the end, the Japanese tire supplier decided to keep supporting the Milton Keynes team. Therefore, the successful cooperation was continued, to the great delight of Verstappen and Red Bull Racing.
Verstappen on the hunt for all records
In 2022, Verstappen seemed poised to challenge Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc for the title. However, a few mistakes and problems for the Scuderia allowed Verstappen to comfortably snatch his second title. Red Bull also secured its first constructors' title in years.
What followed was the record-breaking 2023 season, in which Red Bull Racing managed to win all but one race. It was a year in which the competition undoubtedly wondered why they even showed up, as Verstappen was so dominant in the RB19. The Red Bull driver won a remarkable nineteen races that year, while then-teammate Sergio Pérez won two, and Carlos Sainz won only one with Ferrari. Not entirely surprisingly, Verstappen and Red Bull both won championships well before the end of the season.
After Red Bull's utterly dominant 2023 season, the competition feared for 2024. But although the Austrian team started the season strongly again, dominance this time failed to materialise. While the RB20 began to display more and more problems, the McLaren team was making great strides with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Internal problems within Red Bull and the departure of many top executives also began to take their toll. Verstappen won his fourth consecutive title, partly because he had built up too large a margin over Norris, but the constructors' title still went to Woking. McLaren had transformed from a midfield team into a major contender. And that caused headaches in Austria.
Verstappen on the hunt for a fifth title with Red Bull
That brings us to the present – the 2025 Formula 1 season. At the start of the season, Max Verstappen still hoped for a fifth consecutive world title, but quickly discovered that the McLaren was simply too fast. After just a few races, Verstappen declared he was no longer in contention for the world title.
Although the RB21 isn't performing as Verstappen would have liked, and many were convinced he would want to move to Mercedes, the 27-year-old has now officially expressed his confidence in Red Bull. In Hungary, he confirmed that he will also drive for the Milton Keynes-based team, currently led by Laurent Mekies, in 2026.
With new engine and car regulations, all teams, including Red Bull Racing, face a significant challenge. Starting in 2026, Red Bull will also produce its own engine for the first time, in collaboration with Ford. Whether the team can be immediately competitive with that package remains to be seen in 2026.
Records with Red Bull Racing
Over the years, Max Verstappen has broken many records with Red Bull Racing. We've put the most important ones in a row.
- Longest time in the lead of the world championship (1007 days).
- First driver to win from 10 different grid positions (2024, Brazilian Grand Prix).
- Youngest driver with fastest race lap (2016, Brazilian GP).
- Youngest driver to achieve a F1 Grand Slam - pole position, fastest lap and victory without relinquishing the race lead at any point. (2021, Austrian GP).
- Most podiums in a season (20, in 2023)
- Most championship points in a season (575 points, 2023).
- Most victories in a F1 season (19 victories, 2023)
- Most consecutive victories (10)
- Most consecutive pole positions (8, tied with Ayrton Senna)
- Most consecutive points (1055 points, 2024)
- Highest win percentage (77.27 percent, 2023)
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