Verstappen handed 'reality check' amid Red Bull frustration

Former Formula 1 driver Stefan Johansson has told Max Verstappen that world championships are only won from the best cars, a blunt reality check as the Dutchman endures a winless start to the 2026 season. Verstappen has grown frustrated with the RB22, which lacks the pace to challenge for victories.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's future at Red Bull has become the defining storyline of 2026. The team is struggling as a first-time power unit manufacturer under new regulations, leaving the four-time champion with the fourth-fastest car on the grid. With an exit clause allowing him to leave after this season, his departure would trigger a massive driver market upheaval.

The details:

• Verstappen has scored four podiums and 109 points across 11 races, but the gap to the front-runners has made a fifth title virtually impossible this year.
• Red Bull's in-house power unit has suffered repeated reliability setbacks, including power unit and rear-wing failures that have cost the Dutchman valuable results.
• Despite a contract through 2028, Verstappen holds an option to walk away after 2026 and has refused to commit beyond the current campaign.
• Johansson told the official F1 website that Verstappen remains "unbelievably good" and creating "miracles" in inferior machinery, adding that every team would eagerly clear a seat for him.

What's next:

Unless Red Bull finds rapid improvements in the second half, Verstappen's fifth championship will remain out of reach. His decision on whether to trigger that exit clause is expected to shape the 2027 grid, with rivals already circling to land F1's most sought-after talent.