In an exclusive interview with BBC Sport on the eve of the Italian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen spoke candidly about a difficult 2026 season with Red Bull, in which he has taken five podiums but is yet to win a race. The four-time world champion, known for his blunt style, was especially frank about the team's ongoing struggles with car performance and balance, explaining that Red Bull are no longer fighting for the title but are instead trying to gather learnings to improve for next year.

Verstappen recently signed a two-year contract extension with Red Bull, in theory running to the end of 2030, though it contains performance clauses that could still open the door to a future move if the team's competitiveness does not improve. He described feeling loyalty to Red Bull as "like a second family" and said he never seriously explored leaving, instead urging the team not to stress about retaining him and to focus on the car. He pointed to fundamental issues with the car's through-corner balance and staffing changes within the team as areas being addressed ahead of the 2027 season, while the interview also touched on his talks with McLaren, his Nürburgring 24 Hours appearance, and his concerns over new F1 engine rules.