Sky Sports pundit predicts Max Verstappen's Red Bull exit by 2026

Sky Sports F1 lead commentator David Croft has made a bombshell prediction, stating he believes three-time champion Max Verstappen will no longer be a Red Bull driver by the end of the 2026 Formula 1 season. The forecast comes amid a period of significant technical regulation changes and internal team dynamics, casting uncertainty over the future of the sport's dominant force.

Why it matters:

Verstappen is the cornerstone of Red Bull's current era of success, having delivered four consecutive Constructors' titles for the team. His potential departure would represent the single biggest driver market shakeup in a generation, potentially destabilizing the sport's top team and reshaping the competitive order as F1 enters its new regulatory era in 2026.

The details:

• The prediction was made by David Croft as part of Sky Sports F1's season preview. He explicitly noted it was a "bold prediction" with no current basis in fact, but one he believes could materialize.
• Croft offered no specific destination for Verstappen, leaving his future team a complete mystery should the prediction prove accurate.
• Other Sky Sports pundits made their own forecasts for the coming years:
  • Bernie Collins and Naomi Schiff predicted Mercedes' George Russell will become Formula 1 World Champion.
  • Jenson Button forecast that Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, aged 45, will win a race late in a season to become one of the oldest Grand Prix winners in history.

The big picture:

The 2026 season is a pivotal date on the F1 calendar, marking the introduction of radically new power unit and chassis regulations. Such periods often trigger major driver movements as teams rebuild their projects. Verstappen's current Red Bull contract runs through the end of the 2028 season, but driver contracts in F1 are often complex and can be influenced by performance clauses, team leadership stability, and the competitive landscape.

What's next:

All eyes will be on Red Bull's performance and internal harmony through the 2025 season and into the 2026 regulatory shift. Verstappen's future will likely remain a topic of intense speculation until he either reaffirms his long-term commitment to the team or signs a deal elsewhere. The accuracy of Croft's bold prediction will ultimately be tested by time, but it immediately injects a major narrative into the F1 discourse for the coming years.

summary: Sky Sports F1's David Croft has stunned the paddock with a prediction that Max Verstappen will leave Red Bull Racing by the end of 2026. While he admitted the forecast lacks current evidence, it sparks major speculation about the champion's future amid coming regulation changes, with other pundits also making bold calls for George Russell and Fernando Alonso.