Former Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner reckons Max Verstappen will analyse the impact of the 2026 rule changes on the pecking order before deciding his 💎future with Red Bull.

Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until the end of the 20🅠28 season, but the team has admitted that there are several performan🦋ce clauses in his contract that could enable him to seek an earlier release.

There were already rumours about a split at the beginning of last year as a case against team boss Christian Horner plunged Red Bull into a civil war, but 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Verstappen reiterated his commitment to the team after Horner was cleared ❀of any w♑rongdoing.

Doubts over Verstappen’s future at Red Bull haveꦍ popped up again in the wake of the team’s challenging start to the 2025 F1 season, with the RB21 proving to be both slow and difficult to drive.

While the Dutchman was able to overcome the wಞeaknesses of the RB20 ♊last year and romp to a fourth title, repeating that feat this year against a stronger McLaren team might prove to be tough.

Red Bull was even forced to call an “emergency ꦚmeeting” in Shanghai to convince Verstappen that the team was already working on improving its troubled𒊎 2025 F1 car.

However, Steiner thinks the 27-year-old would play the ‘wait and watch’ game, as leaving Red Bull at the end of this season would beꦗ too much of a gamble in light of the 2026 rules overhaul.

“So I think he wa💛its for '26 to see who is who. If the Red Bull isn't good, he tries to get something for '27.

“I don't know if that is possible with all the contracts and what the deals are, which are goin🍒g o🔜n. But I think that is what he is working [on].

“If he achieves it or not, I don't know. His team, the 🔜team around him, they are good negotiators. They know how to make a dea🍰l.”

McLaren and Ferrari not viable options

Both F1’s chassis and engine rules will be revamped🍷 next year, making 2026 a hugely chaꦏllenging year for teams.

Red Bull is not only working on building a car for the new regulations but is also🙈 having to de𒅌velop an in-house engine for the first time in history, albeit in a partnership with Ford.

Honda, which has enjoyed so much success with Red Bull🔯, is teaming up with rival team Aston Martin after ma༺king a U-turn on its original decision to leave F1.

Steiner thinks 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Mercedes and 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Aston Martin will be the only options for Verstappen should the four-time F1 champion decide to leaღve Re💜d Bull before the end of his contract.

Mercedes’ boss Toto Wolff has publicly ‘flirted’ with Verstappen on several occasions, while🥃 a move to Aston Martin would reunite the Dutchman with design guru Adrian Newey.

“I don't think McLaren is an option for him,” said the Italian. “I think his option is Me🗹rcedes because Ferra🐷ri is not an option, so who else should take him?

“Aston could be [an option]. Newey is coming for the 2026 car, they could get it right. Honda? I don't know. No❀body really knows what it is.

“Aston could be an option and Mercedes. I don't think McLaren or Ferrari areꦺ options🍬.”