A compelling rumour circulating in the Jeddah paddock could quell speculation about Max Verstappen's potential departure from Red Bull.
While Red Bull grapples with challenges in 2025, Verstappen and his management are reportedly wary that the team's in-house powertrains project for the 2026 regulations might further hamper competitiveness.
Talks of moves to Aston Martin, Mercedes, or other teams have surfaced, but Verstappen dismissed the chatter in Saudi Arabia, stating, "Everyone is talking about the rumours except me."
Dutch commentator Olav Mol downplayed the likelihood of Verstappen leaving. "I don't think a departure is on the table," he told Ziggo Sport.
"He has a contract, and I think he wants to see how that goes with Red Bull Powertrains."
However, Mol revealed a significant rumour gaining traction. "I heard something about Red Bull not doing so well with the electrical side, and that they might want to continue with Honda for another season next year to further develop it," he said.
A related whisper suggests that only Racing Bulls might use the Red Bull-Ford engine in 2026, with Red Bull opting for a customer Honda unit. "Red Bull can just rent a customer (Honda) engine," Mol noted.
Another theory posits that Honda, Red Bull's current engine supplier, may be advocating for this arrangement, concerned about the performance struggles of its 2026 works partner, Aston Martin.
Fernando Alonso highlighted Aston Martin's dire situation, stating, "The truth is that we are perhaps the last team in Formula 1 now. We have to put on three sets of tyres in Q1 to try to make it to Q2, and if by some miracle you make it to Q2, then you only have used tyres after that. We need to find some way to solve the problem at the factory because the team in the pits can't do it anymore. I think we've run out of ideas."
