Giedo van der Garde believes Max Verstappen will remain loyal to Red Bull amid speculation over his future in F1. Verstappen has voiced concerns over 2026 regulations but is expected to stay in the sport for now.
Max Verstappen is no stranger to the rumor mill, with recent chatter suggesting he might leave Red Bull and Formula 1 altogether. Yet, Giedo van der Garde, a former F1 driver himself, is convinced Verstappen will remain with his team. Despite Verstappen's vocal criticisms of the 2026 F1 regulations, van der Garde seems confident that loyalty will prevail.
Verstappen has been notably critical about the new rules, particularly around energy management during qualifying sessions. His dissatisfaction has not gone unnoticed by Liberty Media, but van der Garde believes that Verstappen's ultimate goal is to have the best car and continue winning championships with Red Bull. "We all hope Red Bull can turn things around," van der Garde said. "If they do, he'll stay. I think he's loyal enough to carry on with them."
While Verstappen has only managed to score 12 points so far this season, leading to speculation about a possible exit, van der Garde thinks it's still too early for any drastic decisions. "It's far too early in the season," he noted. "I don’t see him stopping. No, I think he’ll carry on in Formula 1 for the time being."
The Dutchman’s contract does contain an exit clause for 2026, but van der Garde doesn’t foresee him activating it. Meanwhile, other voices in the paddock, like Nelson Piquet Jr, speculate that Verstappen might explore other racing avenues, such as GT3. Guenther Steiner has advised Verstappen to "wait and see" what options unfold.
Red Bull, currently struggling in sixth place in the constructors' standings, is working to improve the RB22. The team has had extra time to make adjustments due to the race hiatus caused by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. However, missing out on F1’s ADUO programme could hinder their progress, potentially leaving Verstappen and his teammate Isack Hadjar at a disadvantage.
The RB22's current issues include being 10kg overweight, a problem Red Bull might not resolve until summer. This could further complicate Verstappen's championship hopes as the season progresses.
In summary, while Verstappen's future at Red Bull seems uncertain to some, van der Garde's insights suggest that the Dutch champion will stay put, at least for now. Whether Red Bull can address their technical challenges quickly enough to satisfy their star driver remains the question of the season.