Max Verstappen future pressure addressed by senior Ford figure

Ford Performance director Mark Rushbrook has addressed the uncertain future of Max Verstappen and whether it adds pressure to the American manufacturer’s partnership with Red Bull getting off to a strong start.

Despite talks with Mercedes and uncertainty over whether he would remain with Red Bull at the start of the new regulations, Verstappen revealed ahead of last year’s Hungarian Grand Prix that he was committed to the team for 2026.

However, there is no guarantee he will continue with the Milton Keynes-based outfit beyond that, with much depending on the competitiveness of Red Bull’s car this season.

For the first time in its history, Red Bull — with technical support from Ford — is producing its own power unit, placing it in direct engine competition with Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda and Audi.

If Red Bull and Ford cannot provide Verstappen with a competitive package, the Dutchman is likely to have several teams vying for his services from 2027.

To build momentum in Formula 1’s new era, Red Bull and Ford would ideally want Verstappen to remain at least until his contract expires in 2028, but Rushbrook knows that can only happen if the team delivers on track.

"As racers, we always want to win, right?" Rushbrook told Motorsport Italy. "So it’s important to get out there and perform. We know 2026 will be a challenging year for everyone in the paddock due to the new rules.

"And regardless of the driver, it’s crucial that the team delivers."

Red Bull and Ford cannot afford a poor start to the new regulations if they are to challenge for the drivers’ and constructors’ titles, placing immediate pressure on performance.

That is without even taking Verstappen’s uncertain future into account — something Rushbrook is keen to distance himself from.

"My comments are independent of Max," he said. "We want to go out there with the intention of winning."