Max Verstappen fights to save decade-long F1 win streak

Max Verstappen is facing the very real possibility of ending his decade-long streak of winning at least one grand prix per season, with the four-time champion still searching for his first victory of the 2026 campaign.

Why it matters:

Verstappen has not gone winless since his rookie year with Toro Rosso in 2015, a run that spans his entire rise to becoming one of the most dominant drivers in Formula 1 history. With Ferrari and McLaren both already taking victories this season, and Mercedes setting the pace with the W17, Red Bull remains the only team among the top four yet to reach the top step of the podium.

The details:

• The RB22 has proven capable of fighting for podiums — Verstappen has collected four so far this year — but remains noticeably adrift of the leading pace.
• Red Bull started the season over a second behind Mercedes but has closed the gap to within a few tenths, suggesting genuine progress from the Milton Keynes squad.
• The team's last major turnaround came in 2025 when a floor upgrade at Monza transformed its fortunes, offering a blueprint for what might still be possible in the second half of the year.
• Sepang's return to the calendar could provide a glimmer of hope; in 2017, Verstappen failed to win before the summer break but triumphed in Malaysia and Mexico to salvage his season.

What's next:

The question now is whether Red Bull can deliver a decisive upgrade to unlock race-winning pace before the season concludes. With both Verstappen and the team sharing an unbroken win streak dating back to 2015, their fates remain intertwined. Time is running out, but history suggests writing off the Dutchman this early would be premature.