Overview
- Jenson Button, in comments published Tuesday by Sky F1 and carried by RacingNews365 and Crash, said Max Verstappen is unlikely to take a year off and would either keep racing or stop entirely.
- Ralf Schumacher told Sky Sports Germany he expects Verstappen to look for another seat next year, adding that this is his personal view rather than a confirmed plan.
- Schumacher also projected a two-to-three-year rebuild for Red Bull, arguing the team needs time to recruit and reorganize before it can fight at the front again.
- Verstappen has been open about his dislike of the 2026 cars, which rely on a near 50-50 split between engine and battery power, and he has said the new format has reduced his enjoyment of F1.
- Red Bull’s slow start, with no podiums in the first three rounds and handling complaints from both drivers, has fueled speculation, even as the only confirmed move is race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase joining McLaren in 2028.