Red Bull sent Max Verstappen warning over F1 future danger

Former F1 driver Derek Daly has asserted Max Verstappen's future with Red Bull beyond next year is far from certain amid the team's dip in form.

Having enjoyed championship success with Red Bull from 2021 to 2024, Verstappen has found himself in a less competitive position this year with McLaren rising to the front of the pecking order.

Verstappen has taken three race victories this year, but McLaren's dominance has kept him out of championship contention.

It led to speculation he could leave Red Bull at the end of this year and was heavily linked with a move to Mercedes ahead of new technical regulations coming into play next season.

While the four-time champion has committed the 2026 campaign to Red Bull, Daly is not so sure about his future beyond next year.

“I have absolutely no doubt Max is looking around to see where's the best place for him to land for 2027 onwards,” Daly exclusively told RacingNews365. “Without a doubt.

“A driver of Max's superb ability, what drives him will not be content to sit back in defective equipment.

“So for sure, for 2027 onwards, he's going to be looking to be signed by the best team.”

'Years before Red Bull cycle back again'

McLaren has dominated the current F1 campaign, scoring 12 wins in 16 rounds and taking over at the top of the order from Red Bull.

Pointing to decades gone by, Daly predicted it will be several years before Red Bull rise back to a position of superiority over the field.

“If you look at the history of racing, look back to Williams, or to Lotus or to Ferrari,” he said.

“The history of F1 goes up and down, cycles and troughs. Red Bull is going into their trough.

“It’s going to be years before they'll cycle back again to the greatness they've had in the future. Ferrari is in their trough right now.

“McLaren just came out of their trough. You can’t argue with history. This is the way the sport has always gone.

“It’s following a normal trajectory. I have to think that Max Verstappen’s dad knows that and Max knows that.

“They’re going to try and catch the wave of an uplift trough with whatever team shows that in the future.

“Mercedes was on the high for how long, and now they're down in their trough.

“They’re hoping that these new regulations, their engineers will design a car that'll have them on the ascent to more dominance. That is the fascination about F1. You just never know.”