Crucial Max Verstappen role highlighted after Red Bull F1 exits

The importance of Max Verstappen's role in providing stability to Red Bull in 2026 after a number of high-profile exits has been explained. 

After months of speculation linking him with a bombshell move to Mercedes, Verstappen will be staying at Red Bull for 2026 after the expiration of an exit clause in his contract prior to the summer break. 

Since spring 2024, multiple senior figures have left Red Bull, with chief engineering officer Adrian Newey and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley leaving for Aston Martin and Audi, respectively, whilst long-time boss Christian Horner was sacked in July. 

Such a high turnover of senior figures in a short space of time is rare in F1, and usually has an impact on performance, but the importance of Verstappen's staying has been highlighted by former F1 driver and tame racing driver Perry McCarthy.

"I think if you were to spell crucial in capital letters, and then multiply it by 15, you'd have somewhere near the answer," McCarthy exclusively told RacingNews365 when asked how important the stability Verstappen's presence would give the team.

"Because Max, it can be easily argued, is the best driver in the world at this moment in time. 

"His ability is astounding, and his mental capacity is incredible, but the caveat here is that I'm not in love with all the things he does on track sometimes, but that is one side of it. 

"If you look at his talent and his mental ability, it is absolutely incredible, and I would hasten to add that Max is very much one of the best of all-time."

The article continues below. 

Verstappen a contender for Mount Rushmore

When asked if Verstappen would be placed on his 'Mount Rushmore' of F1 drivers, in reference to the monument with George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln on it, McCarthy placed Verstappen "as a candidate."

"Frankly, it is a difficult one," he said about his four picks. 

"It can open a complete can of worms, but I think you could probably place Ayrton [Senna] on there, and maybe Michael [Schumacher]. 

"Then you've got a lot of candidates for the other two, and I think Max would be a candidate, Lewis would be a candidate, and it depends on how far you want to go back. 

"Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, there are candidates there, but personally, I would fill the top two slots."