P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull told Verstappen WILL leave if Mercedes form continues
Red Bull F1 team has been warned of Max Verstappen’s potential move to Mercedes in 2026 if Red Bull fails to master the new regulations. The upcoming championship sees all teams, including Red Bull and Mercedes, getting ready for the significant changes in F1 regulations, with Barcelona recently hosting the first pre-season testing rounds.
Despite Red Bull’s impressive performance in Barcelona with no major power unit issues during testing, Mercedes, with their reliable engines, have already positioned themselves as the ones to watch for the season. Red Bull will compete in 2026 using their own in-house power units built by the Red Bull Powertrains division in partnership with Ford.
The performance testing may not give a clear picture, but Verstappen, after facing delays in testing plans due to a crash, acknowledged that the RB22 was still a work in progress. As Verstappen aims for victories, Red Bull must challenge and potentially surpass Mercedes to retain their star driver.
Former F1 driver, Johnny Herbert, emphasized that Red Bull must beat Mercedes consistently to keep Verstappen satisfied, as racing drivers strive for victories. Verstappen, who had flirted with the idea of joining Mercedes in 2025 but committed to Red Bull, may reconsider his future if Red Bull falls behind early in the 2026 season.
