With Formula 1 returning in Miami, attention will be on Max Verstappen after he revealed last month that he is weighing his future in the sport. Verstappen has openly criticised the new 2026 regulations, which have produced a different style of driving and racing, and Red Bull have struggled to compete at the front.
Between the Japanese Grand Prix and Miami, the FIA and F1 held meetings with teams and tweaked power unit rules to address drivers’ concerns about driveability and the “yoyo” nature of racing — changes Verstappen had pushed for. How those adjustments translate on track this weekend will be one early indicator of whether the sport has moved in a direction that satisfies him.
Another development adding complexity to Verstappen’s situation is the surprise announcement that his race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, will leave Red Bull to join McLaren by 2028 at the latest. Verstappen has previously said he would consider quitting F1 if Lambiase were not his engineer, underlining how central their partnership has been. Red Bull say Lambiase will remain with the team through 2027, though McLaren are reportedly trying to accelerate the move. Verstappen’s contract runs to the end of 2028, but Sky Sports News understands performance clauses could allow an earlier exit.
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies stressed that Verstappen has been fully informed about discussions with Lambiase and remains involved in the team’s project. Mekies highlighted the depth of talent within Red Bull and expressed confidence the team can rebuild and improve. Still, Lambiase’s departure follows a string of significant exits from the Milton Keynes outfit in recent years, and the loss of another trusted figure will be a factor for Verstappen to weigh.
Regulation changes are the foremost issue for Verstappen. He has said the rules — not his position in the pecking order — determine his future, arguing that the current package limits drivers’ ability to push in qualifying and produces inconsistent flat-out driving. FIA and F1 amendments this month aim for “more consistent flat-out driving,” and Miami’s Sprint format (a 19-lap Sprint on Saturday plus a 57-lap Grand Prix on Sunday) will be an early test of whether those changes have improved the racing product.
Sky Sports pundit Martin Brundle noted Verstappen will want to see how Red Bull’s car performs through the mid-season upgrade cycle. While Red Bull’s new Ford power unit has shown promise, the chassis and aero package have been the team’s weak points. Recent upgrades — including new sidepods, floor and engine cover used in Japan — did not deliver the expected step forward, with Verstappen even outqualified by team-mate Isack Hadjar.
Red Bull plan significant upgrades for Miami as they try to close a substantial gap to Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren. The team must show Verstappen that they can provide a car he can consistently push; Mekies said this is the priority. If Verstappen can again find a platform to apply his “Max effect” and the team can build development on that, frustration may ease. If not, the pressure on his decision about remaining in F1 will grow.
Ultimately, Miami offers two main indicators to watch: whether the regulatory tweaks change the character of qualifying and racing in a way Verstappen finds acceptable, and whether Red Bull’s upgrade path gives him a car he can truly push. Between the power unit adjustments and the looming engineering departures, this Sprint weekend could provide the first clear clues about where Verstappen’s future in Formula 1 is heading.
Formula 1 returns this Friday with the Miami Grand Prix, including the season’s second Sprint weekend.