2026 F1 regulation shake-up: is Max Verstappen’s future in danger?. Juan Pablo Montoya warns that the 2026 F1 regulations could threaten Max Verstappen’s dominance.

As 2026 approaches, so does a major technical and aerodynamic revolution in Formula 1 regulations, which could once again disrupt the competitive balance—and put Max Verstappen’s future at risk. Raising the alarm is Juan Pablo Montoya, who believes the four-time world champion might suffer a performance drop just as Lewis Hamilton did when ground-effect cars were introduced in 2022.

“The question isn’t how good Max is. The real question is: can Red Bull continue to dominate under the new rules and without Adrian Newey?” the former driver told CasinoHawks. Montoya calls it a “million-dollar question,” drawing a parallel to what happened to Mercedes after 2021.

Is Max Verstappen’s F1 future really at risk?

With the introduction of ground-effect cars in 2022, Red Bull dominated thanks to a technical masterpiece designed by Adrian Newey, which allowed Max Verstappen to win 15 out of 22 races in 2022 and 19 in 2023. However, the aerodynamic mastermind left the team at the start of 2025 to join Aston Martin and lead the development of the AMR26.

This has raised concerns about Red Bull’s future, especially with a new regulatory era set to begin in just over a year. The new cars are expected to be lighter, smaller, and more agile. “This will be the first time Red Bull faces a regulation change without Adrian Newey,” Montoya emphasized, adding that it will be critical to see whether the team can maintain its level without his technical leadership.

As a result, Max Verstappen’s future is under scrutiny. According to some reports, Aston Martin is preparing a massive offer to lure the Dutch champion, potentially reuniting him with Newey. Although the British team has denied rumors of a $1 billion investment, the mere existence of such speculation adds to the uncertainty surrounding Max’s future at Milton Keynes.

“I think this concern is more in Jos’s mind than Max’s,” Juan Pablo Montoya concluded. “Jos knows how crucial it is to have the right person building the car. Newey is exceptional. If anyone deserves a trophy for the titles won, it’s him.”