Verstappen denies Red Bull's slow start is due to 2025 car development

Max Verstappen has firmly rejected the theory that Red Bull's difficult start to the 2026 Formula 1 season is a direct consequence of the team's extended development of its 2025 car. The reigning champion pointed to past transitions as proof, while acknowledging the team is currently in a less stable competitive position than in recent years.

Why it matters:

The debate touches on a core strategic dilemma for top teams: when to stop developing a current championship-contending car to focus fully on a major new regulations cycle. If Red Bull's 2025 title push genuinely compromised its 2026 project, it would serve as a cautionary tale for future seasons. Verstappen's dismissal shifts the focus squarely onto solving the new car's inherent performance and reliability issues.

The details:

• Verstappen countered the theory by referencing the 2021 to 2022 transition, where Red Bull also developed its car until the season's end before a major rule change and then produced a dominant 2022 car.
• Red Bull's 2025 development allowed Verstappen to win six of the final ten races and take the title fight to the final round, ultimately losing by just two points.
• The team's primary challenge in 2026 is its all-new, in-house power unit (PU), which has been plagued by early reliability "gremlins" in the first two races.
• After races in Australia and China, Red Bull sits a lowly fifth in the constructors' championship with only 12 points, a stark contrast to its usual front-running position.

What's next:

The immediate pressure is on Red Bull to understand and rectify the issues with its new power unit and chassis package. Verstappen's comments make it clear the team is looking inward for solutions rather than backward at past decisions. The coming European leg of the season will be critical for Red Bull to implement fixes and determine if its 2026 car can climb back into regular contention for victories, or if this will be a season of damage limitation.