A bombshell story has just emerged concerning the reigning world champion. Max Verstappen could be heading toward a 2026 without Formula 1: a sabbatical year, away from the circus, while the doors at Aston Martin appear temporarily closed. What is happening around Red Bull’s number 1?
The relationship between Max Verstappen and Red Bull, as has become evident, is no longer at its most serene. As early as last year, with the drop in performance and the end of total domination, rumors began circulating about a possible departure for the Dutch driver. Among the most discussed destinations, Aston Martin has long stood out.
Even in this 2025 season, despite only four races having taken place and Max Verstappen sitting third in the drivers’ standings, his dissatisfaction is palpable. The tension was heightened by chaos in the garage during the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend. According to several journalists, his manager and Helmut Marko had a heated confrontation in the pits.
A potential move from Milton Keynes to Silverstone starting in 2026 would reunite Max with two of his former winning allies: Adrian Newey, the aerodynamics genius, and the Honda engine, with which he claimed his first titles at Red Bull during the hybrid era.
But the most shocking rumor to shake the paddock has come from the BBC’s Chequered Flag podcast: journalist Andrew Benson revealed that Verstappen might even decide to take a year off.
“One of the most intriguing stories about Verstappen at the moment is that he could take a sabbatical next year, just to see how the new regulations go and then pick a team for 2027. This is an idea that someone close to Max suggested to me without me even asking. I don’t know if they’re just playing games, of course, just to stir things up a bit. But why couldn’t it happen?”
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