Formula 1 heads to Miami this weekend and all eyes will be on Max Verstappen, who recently revealed he is reconsidering his long-term place in the sport. Verstappen has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the 2026 rule package, saying it has changed the driving style, reduced the ability to push in qualifying and led to inconsistent flat-out performance. Red Bull’s results have suffered as a result, and Miami offers an early chance to see if recent fixes begin to reverse that trend.
In the weeks between the Japanese Grand Prix and Miami, the FIA and F1 convened talks with the teams and introduced adjustments to the power unit rules to improve driveability and reduce the “yoyo” effect drivers have complained about — amendments Verstappen himself had urged. How those changes play out on track during Miami’s Sprint weekend will be one of the first tangible signals of whether the sport is moving in a direction he can accept.
Complicating Verstappen’s decision is the unexpected announcement that his long-time race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, will depart Red Bull to join McLaren no later than 2028. Verstappen has previously suggested he might leave F1 if Lambiase were no longer his race engineer, underscoring how crucial their partnership has been. Red Bull insist Lambiase will stay until at least the end of 2027, although McLaren are reportedly trying to accelerate the move. Verstappen’s own contract currently runs through 2028, but Sky Sports News reports there may be performance-related clauses that could allow an earlier exit.
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has said Verstappen has been kept fully informed about discussions over Lambiase and remains part of the team’s wider project. Mekies highlighted the depth of talent inside Red Bull and expressed confidence in the team’s ability to rebuild and improve. Still, Lambiase’s departure adds to a string of notable exits from Milton Keynes in recent seasons and will be another factor Verstappen must weigh.
For Verstappen, however, the regulation changes remain the primary concern. He argues the current package curtails drivers’ capacity to extract maximum performance and makes full-throttle driving less consistent. The recent FIA/F1 tweaks aim to restore more uniform flat-out behavior, and Miami’s format — a 19-lap Sprint on Saturday followed by a 57-lap Grand Prix on Sunday — will provide an immediate test of whether racing and qualifying have improved.
On the technical side, Red Bull have shown promise with their new Ford power unit, but the chassis and aerodynamic package have been the team’s weak points. Recent upgrades introduced in Japan, including revised sidepods, floor and engine cover, failed to deliver the anticipated performance leap, and Verstappen was even outqualified by team-mate Isack Hadjar. That underperformance has increased the pressure on Red Bull to produce a meaningful development step in Miami.
Red Bull are planning significant upgrades for Miami as they try to close the gap to Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren. The team must prove they can give Verstappen a car he can consistently push — something Mekies says is the immediate priority. If Miami’s package of regulatory tweaks and car upgrades allows Verstappen to rediscover the “Max effect,” his frustrations may ease. If not, the weekend could intensify the debate over his future.
In short, Miami offers two key things to watch: whether the changes to power unit and driveability rules alter qualifying and racing in a way that satisfies Verstappen, and whether Red Bull’s upgrade trajectory produces a car he can truly extract performance from. Between the unit tweaks and looming personnel moves, 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, featuring the season’s second Sprint format.