The change in regulations for next season will see a significant shake-up in the grid, with Cadillac also getting everything in place to join the grid in 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n Max Verstappen predicts Mercedes ‘leading’ in 2026 Max Verstappen has been the clear-cut number one driver for Red Bull for the entirety of the 2020s. | David Kirouac-Imagn Images<\/p>\n In a rather surprising turn of events, Max Verstappen’s tone when talking about next season seems to indicate he is more confident in rival team Mercedes than his own team, Red Bull. The racing star spoke to NextGen-Auto<\/a> about the upcoming year:<\/p>\n “I think Mercedes will be at the front. They\u2019re always there, always strong. It\u2019s a top team, so I think they\u2019ll be leading – especially when it comes to the engine.”<\/p>\n Max Verstappen<\/p>\n Mercedes are rumoured to look impressive for 2026, but are yet to pin down a contract for George Russell <\/a>or Kimi Antonelli.<\/p>\n Verstappen’s outlook on his own team is less positive, indicating that Red Bull will be battling upwards. But the Dutchman still manages to give the situation a positive spin.<\/p>\n “Next year won\u2019t be easy with our own engine, of course… [the regulations are] a new risk for Red Bull, but they also took a risk when they first entered Formula 1, and that turned out pretty well for them.\u201d<\/p>\n Verstappen on Red Bull’s 2026<\/p>\n The 27-year-old made sure to clarify that the Austrian team were putting their utmost into making the 2026 version of the car as strong as possible, however.<\/p>\n “We\u2019re giving everything we have. I hope we\u2019ll be close, but of course, I don\u2019t know.”<\/p>\n Verstappen on the team’s effortVerstappen ‘not too worried’ about winning the 2025 Drivers’ Championship Red Bull have looked stronger recently, with Verstappen having two wins from the last three races. | Getty Images \/ Red Bull Content Pool<\/p>\n Red Bull have made incremental improvements throughout the 2025 season, with Verstappen revealing that Red Bull had altered their car during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend, but refusing to elaborate on what has changed regarding the car.<\/p>\n “Yes. But nobody needs to know what [we have done]…the important thing is that we\u2019re performing better.”<\/p>\n Verstappen on Red Bull’s upgrades<\/p>\n A strong second-placed finish for Verstappen at Marina Bay, in front of both McLarens but behind the Silver Arrows of George Russell<\/a>, indicates that there is a slim chance that he can make a late title push.<\/p>\n But Verstappen simmered the narrative:<\/p>\n “I\u2019m not too worried about it – I can only do my best. I already have a lot of things in my life that I enjoy… Maybe there\u2019s still a chance, and I\u2019ll try to make the most of it, but I\u2019m not stressing about the title.\u201d<\/p>\n The Latest Formula 1 News<\/p>\n Is Lando Norris \u2018Out of His Comfort Zone\u2019 As McLaren Title Tension Grows?<\/a><\/p>\n F1 Serves Up a Tasty New Partnership With Chicken Shop Date Creator Amelia Dimoldenberg<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Max](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/01k74qv14j5d5qkn7ypz.jpg\" "\\"Max")
<\/p>\n![\"Red](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/01k6qrd8xakgqtpttvy6.jpg\" "\\"Red")
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