Max Verstappen 'accepted' crucial Red Bull change: 'He would have left'

Formula 1 commentator Alex Jacques believes Max Verstappen has "accepted" that Red Bull is in a "rebuilding" phase, claiming he would have quit the team if he hadn’t come to terms with it.

The Dutchman confirmed at the Hungarian Grand Prix that he will remain with the Milton Keynes-based outfit for 2026, ending rumours of a potential switch to Mercedes next year.

However, Red Bull is no longer the dominant force it was 12 months ago, with significant changes having taken place. Team principal Laurent Mekies is leading the outfit's recovery, a process that could take several seasons.

Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has already ruled Verstappen out of this year’s drivers’ title fight, due to a combination of McLaren’s superiority and the team’s ongoing struggles.

Those struggles hit a new low in Hungary, where the four-time world champion had to settle for a disappointing ninth-place finish.

While Red Bull does have some new parts for the final 10 rounds, much of its focus is on becoming a powertrain supplier under the new power unit regulations next year.

As a result, Jacques expects Verstappen to face a tough end to the current campaign but believes he will be eager to see clear signs of progress from Red Bull.

"I think he'll want to see some improvements. I mean, that was a very chastening Hungarian Grand Prix, his previous race. 

"That's about the lowest ebb we've seen for Red Bull in a very long time, on sheer competitiveness. He'll want to see the team operating sharply. 

"But yeah, the emphasis for the entire grid is shifting to 2026, so it'll be the same for Red Bull, but they are in a rebuilding mode. He's accepted that. 

"If he hadn't have accepted that, he would have left the team, so he knows what he signed up for. But yeah, I think he's a little bit resigned to his fate for this year, but wants to see green shoots of recovery, to use that fun sporting cliché."