Verstappen at the Heart of Red Bull News for 2026 and a Persistent Controversy
Max Verstappen, the Red Bull driver, is at the center of several recent developments. On one hand, he participated in the launch of the new liveries for Red Bull and Racing Bulls for the 2026 season, at an event organized in collaboration with Ford, alongside Isack Hadjar. Simultaneously, Red Bull launched a countdown to reveal its new merchandise range for 2026, including team apparel and car replicas, thanks to an extended partnership with Castore. Financially, according to the Sportico 2025 ranking, Verstappen is the second-highest-paid F1 driver, behind Lewis Hamilton and ahead of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. However, a controversy has resurfaced: a former F1 steward claims that Michael Masi "handed" the 2021 title to Verstappen by not following the rules during the Safety Car period in Abu Dhabi, allowing the Dutchman to overtake Hamilton on the final lap. These developments blend commercial advancements and regulatory debates surrounding the triple world champion.
