'Top company': Max Verstappen makes ‘very strong’ Mercedes 2026 F1 claim after deciding to stay at Red Bull

Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen has started previewing next season and how the landscape of Formula 1 could be about to change.

Max Verstappen still has every reason to be concentrating on this season with Red Bull, given the state of the drivers’ championship.

Although unlikely, Verstappen could still pull off one of Formula 1’s greatest comebacks if he can overturn Oscar Piastri’s 69-point lead in the final seven race weekends of the season.

The Singapore Grand Prix is the only active track on the calendar where Verstappen hasn’t won, but if he ends that trend, then McLaren will be frightened that Red Bull have found a way to end their recent supremacy.

Every team on the grid, and Cadillac away from the paddock, have now turned virtually their full attention to 2026.

Formula 1’s upcoming regulation changes could see a seismic shift at the front of the back, at least, that’s what every team aside from McLaren will be hoping for.

Many people believe that Mercedes will have the strongest power unit in 2026, given their previous experience developing engines.

Verstappen was linked with a move to Mercedes next year before committing his future to Red Bull, and has provided an update on how he feels the Silver Arrows and his current team will fare next year.

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Max Verstappen predicts Mercedes to be ‘up there’ in 2026 and makes Red Bull comment

Verstappen was asked in an interview with Sky Sports Germany about Mercedes’ chances in 2026 and said: “Yes, I believe they will be up there at the front.

“They are always there, they are always very strong. They are, of course, a top company.

“I also believe that they will be up there at the front in terms of the engine, but we are working on it from our side, we are trying to give it our all from the start, of course, and I hope that we will be close. But I have no idea.”

Verstappen also spoke about how difficult this season has been, and what he expects Red Bull to do in 2026 and continued: “It was, of course, turbulent at the end, but then we talked about it a lot and I have to say that now, in the team, it is very calm and there is a good atmosphere and that’s how it should be in the end.

“In terms of performance, we are not satisfied with this year.

“I have to say, the Red Bull family is great. Of course, we’ve been together for a long time.

“I always said that I would like to drive here until the end. That’s always been the dream, and it’s still possible.

“I hope that we can now take steps forward. Of course, next year will not be easy with our own engine, but that is also a new risk for Red Bull, But, they did the same thing back when they entered Formula 1, and they didn’t do too badly.”

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Max Verstappen expecting Red Bull update plan before end of the 2025 F1 season

Red Bull have struggled to develop their car since their dominant 2023 campaign, with Verstappen’s various teammates in the last 18 months struggling to extract the full potential of their machines.

However, since the arrival of Laurent Mekies as team principal, it feels like Red Bull have turned a corner.

Red Bull’s most recent updates were planned under Christian Horner, but the additional communication between Verstappen, Mekies and his engineers have delivered back-to-back wins and a best finish of the season for Yuki Tsunoda.

Technical chief Pierre Wache has not ruled out further updates for Red Bull this season as long as Verstappen has a realistic chance of winning the championship.

That could mean a decision is made as soon as Sunday if Verstappen can pull off another 25-point swing, or if the championship goes in the opposite direction.