Max Verstappen has been one of the most vocal critics of the 2026 Formula 1 regulations. How much of that is due to the relative lack of competitiveness of his Red Bull and how much is down to a genuine concern about the future of the sport is open to debate, but it’s got people’s attention.
In the June issue of Autosport magazine, out today (7 May), Ronald Vording explains how Verstappen is fighting on several fronts at the moment and looks at what he could do next, as well as underlining that his GT outings are helping to maintain Max’s enthusiasm for the sport.
Should Verstappen walk away from F1? If he really wants to, fair enough – who are we to say – but it’s surely not what the Dutchman desires. Verstappen knows he can take on other motorsport challenges later in his career and, at 28, he should be in his prime.
As Jake Boxall-Legge shows in his article on the driver challenge in F1, the greats always work out what they have to do to get an edge, whatever the rules. The details change but the attributes of the best stay the same, and Verstappen is undoubtedly one of those: he’ll be able to prove it if he hangs around.
Our writers take on the question of what F1 should look like in the Autosport Great Debate. We also analyse the current midfield battle, while Stuart Codling marks 60 years of McLaren in F1 by looking back at how founder Bruce McLaren moved from promising Kiwi youngster to boss of a team that could take on Ferrari and Lotus.
Ten years before that, Vanwall made a breakthrough for the struggling (but improving) British F1 contingent. We recall Stirling Moss’s victory in the 1956 BRDC International Trophy.
Trying to make his way into F1 is Colton Herta. The IndyCar star talks to Ben Vinel in the issue about the challenge of F2 and his hopes of proving to Cadillac that he’s ready for grand prix racing.
Outside of single-seaters, we review the World Endurance Championship opener at Imola, celebrate 20 years of GT3 and pick out the recent highlights of the UK motorsport season, including the first round of the British Touring Car Championship at Donington Park and the Goodwood Members’ Meeting.
For the best motorsport coverage, from F1 to Britain’s club-racing scene via the Le Mans 24 Hours, why not get Autosport magazine delivered to your door each month? Subscribe today and never miss your fix of motorsport: autosportmedia.com/offer/Autosport
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– The Autosport.com Team
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