Max Verstappen F1 Career, Red Bull Racing, and Latest News
Max Verstappen is a four-time Formula One World Champion who currently drives for Red Bull Racing.
As of the 2026 season, the Dutch and Belgian driver competes under car number 3 following a highly successful run of consecutive titles from 2021 to 2024.
| Current Team | Red Bull Racing |
| F1 World Championships | 4 (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) |
| Car Number | 3 (for the 2026 season) |
| Career Wins | 71 (as of 2026 Hungarian GP) |
| Contract Term | Until 2028 (with exit clauses) |
| Team Principal | Laurent Mekies |
Max Verstappen is a premier Formula One driver who has established himself as one of the sport's most dominant figures. Born on September 30, 1997, the 28-year-old Dutch and Belgian racing driver has spent the bulk of his career competing at the highest level of motorsport. After making his F1 debut in 2015 with Toro Rosso, Verstappen quickly transitioned to Red Bull Racing, securing his first Grand Prix victory at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix. This milestone set the stage for a historic run, culminating in four consecutive Formula One World Drivers' Championships from 2021 to 2024.
The 2025 season brought intense competition, with Verstappen finishing as the runner-up in the Drivers' Championship. He accumulated 421 points but ultimately missed out on a fifth consecutive title by a mere two points to McLaren's Lando Norris. Entering the 2026 season under new technical regulations, Verstappen made a symbolic change to his identity on the track, switching his car number to 3. This followed his use of number 1 from 2022 to 2025, and number 33 during the earlier years of his career.
Red Bull Racing itself underwent significant structural changes ahead of the 2026 campaign. Following the dismissal of long-time Team Principal Christian Horner in July 2025—which was finalized in September 2025 with a £80 million ($100 million) settlement—Laurent Mekies stepped in as the new CEO and Team Principal. Under Mekies' leadership, the team is navigating the 2026 season utilizing its own power unit, which was developed in partnership with Ford. This engine transition represents a major technical shift for the Milton Keynes-based squad.
The first half of the 2026 season has presented notable performance challenges for Verstappen and the team. As of the summer break following the Hungarian Grand Prix, Verstappen sits 6th in the Drivers' Championship standings with 109 points. While he has secured four podium finishes, he has recorded zero race wins during this period. Despite these struggles, his career statistics remain highly impressive, standing at 71 race wins, 48 pole positions, 131 podiums, and 3,553.5 total career points.
Verstappen's current contract with Red Bull Racing extends until 2028, but his future with the team remains a subject of intense discussion. The agreement includes a specific performance-based exit clause. Because Verstappen was not positioned in the top two of the Drivers' Championship standings after the Hungarian Grand Prix, this clause allows him the option to leave the team between the summer break and October 2026. In his personal life, Verstappen and his partner Kelly Piquet welcomed their first daughter in April 2025. As the season prepares to resume with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort on August 23, 2026, the racing world is watching both his on-track performance and his next career moves.
