CK Updates
Max Verstappen interview: Red Bull driver on McLaren talks, ‘numb’ cars and why he speaks his mind
Max Verstappen is in a no-nonsense mood – even more than usual.
The Red Bull driver is renowned for his straight talking but now, as he discusses his 2026 season so far in an exclusive interview with BBC Sport, he is at his most uncompromising.
Perhaps it’s the heat.
We’re talking on the eve of last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix. The temperature is into the mid-30Cs, Red Bull’s hospitality unit is not coping well, and Verstappen’s PR handler messages before the Dutchman turns up to suggest I find a table near a fan; the interview might be more positive that way.
Monza is the second race since the four-time world champion signed a two-year contract extension with Red Bull.
In theory, this runs to the end of 2030. In reality, it changes little. It still has performance clauses. So Verstappen is earning a bit more money but, if Red Bull are still struggling for competitiveness next year, there will remain the prospect he could look for pastures new.
Verstappen arrives and briefly adjusts the fan blowing in our direction. “It’s too hot in here,” he says.
Does he need a breather before we start? “No, no,” he says. “I’m good. It was just that it was super-hot in the corner when I was doing the print [media].”
OK, then. Let’s go.
Verstappen is always a great interviewee. Direct, honest, uncompromising.
Now, for whatever reason, he is especially frank and open, as we discuss why he extended his contract, his discussions with McLaren, his stunning appearance at the Nurburgring 24 Hours in May, and the new Formula 1 engine rules, with which it is no secret he has a problem.
Where’s your head at, Max, in terms of how the season has gone so far?
“Of course it’s not where I want to be, but as a team we’re trying to just learn and understand a lot of things for next year. We are not in a title fight. We are just trying to find more performance.
“Changes need to happen to the car for next year. We will not be able to change that for this year, but we just need to try and get a lot of learnings to do better next year.”
What exactly is wrong with it?
“Overall we’re just lacking a bit of performance. The car is not where I want it to be feeling-wise, and the through-corner balance is too hit and miss between entry, mid and exit.
“It’s just fundamentally something in the car that we need to try and work on for the next year.”
This has been a bit of a theme for longer than this year. How concerning is it that that’s happening across a different set of regulations?
“That’s exactly that. There’s also things that we talk about within the team, like how can that happen, how can we fix it? That’s basically what we are doing now and trying to do now.
“Some people have left, new people have come in. With the new people, we are discussing what we can do about it. Is that just some changes, a different philosophy? All these kind of things.”
What made you sign a new contract?
“It comes down to also feeling well within a team. This is like a second family to me.
“The belief that you can turn things around, you can build towards hopefully a better future with other people, new people. And at the end of the day, it’s not only Formula 1 for me. There are a lot of things that I’m doing next year that Red Bull is involved in as well.
“I feel good here. So this, for me, is the right place to be.”
Did it take much for them to convince you to do it?
“I always said to them: ‘Don’t stress about it, just work on the car.’ Because the faster the car goes, the easier the decision is anyway.
“I can understand, of course, maybe sometimes they were a little bit worried. But at the same time, for me, I was just worried about here, what was going on.
“At the same time, I was very busy with my stuff also outside of Formula 1. So I never really spent a lot of time talking or doing different things or trying to go somewhere else.”
From the outside, it’s hard to see what they could have done to convince you things will improve.
“I don’t mind the challenge also. I don’t have that desire or need to show in another car that I can win it, or whatever.
“It’s easy to run to the fastest car and then do it all again. But it’s not how I am. You cannot be the captain of the ship and as soon as there is something not working, you jump off the ship.
“It’s been a bit downwards from the dominant years, but I don’t mind also rebuilding it. It’s another challenge as well.”
You talked to Mercedes last year, McLaren this year. How serious was that?
“Of course, any kind of chat you take seriously. They’re all very respectful chats. There’s nothing wrong with that.
“I felt that staying was, for me, the right choice. You have to follow your heart. I could have run away very early on in my Red Bull career and gone somewhere else to try and win. If you have a little bit of patience, you do end up winning. I feel like that’s my approach now as well.”
What race have you enjoyed most this year?
“Probably the Nordschleife [Nurburgring 24 Hours]. It was super-cool to be able to do an endurance event with my team-mates, the guys that won with the car throughout the main season.
“We knew that we were going to be really strong. We peaked at the right time, but unfortunately the car retired. It was an incredible experience. And pure. Pure motorsport.”
Your first stint, where you went from 10th to first, was so impressive.
“I was enjoying it. Not easy conditions. It started to drizzle. The track was slippery. Crashes. Code 60s [when a stretch of track is limited to 60km/h after an incident].
“Some people were like: ‘Let’s see how he will do in the race under pressure with all these kinds of scenarios that he has never done before.’
“But I have done them a million times on the simulator. I have done so many laps and 24-hour races on the simulator. I never felt out of depth or whatever. I was fully zoned in. I just had a great time.
“Once I was in the race, you switch to another level. I was just in a zone. It’s really enjoyable.”
You want to go back to Nurburgring to win that race. Is there anything else on your bucket list?
“All the endurance races. Eventually, of course also Hypercar [the world endurance championship]. I don’t want to rush it. I want to do it in the right environment. On my terms. And competitive.”
CK Updates
Chelsea 6-3 Leeds: Xabi Alonso ‘takes responsibility’ as Palmer, Rogers and Welbeck rescue Blues in cup
For the Premier League’s biggest clubs, this competition is usually an opportunity to blood youngsters and give fringe players valuable minutes.
However, only 35-year-old Danny Welbeck, who scored twice, emerged from the starters with a compelling case for more regular involvement.
Even Valentin Barco, despite scoring Chelsea‘s fifth goal, was partly at fault for Leeds‘ second and was among several players who repeatedly surrendered possession during a difficult first half.
Young attackers Estevao Willian and Jamie Gittens suffered the disappointment of being substituted at half-time, while £40m signing Geovany Quenda, who joined from Sporting, did not add to his solitary substitute appearance for the club as he watched from the bench.
Midfielder Reggie Watson, making his debut at the age of 16, was also withdrawn at the break after being booked.
Alonso later said he would not take a “cynical” view as some on the outside might about the difference in level between his proven stars and Chelsea‘s back-up options.
He added: “I know that probably I have to take the right decisions for them to show their best level, so it’s something that I will analyse and learn from today.”
Nevertheless, reaching the fourth round is important for Chelsea.
It is not only about preserving their hopes of silverware in a season without European football, but Chelsea are also a club that need as many competitive fixtures as possible.
They have a 27-man squad, supported by a strong academy pipeline, and these matches are vital for keeping a large group of players engaged throughout the campaign.
There is an irony, then, that Palmer, Rogers and Chelsea‘s other established stars may have secured future opportunities for the very fringe players whose performances had put the club’s EFL Cup campaign at risk.
Third Rothesay Test, Edgbaston (day one of five)
Pakistan 133: Shakeel 43; Tongue 4-42, Robinson 3-15, Archer 3-25
England 156-4: Gay 60, Brook 52*
England are 23 runs ahead
England again demolished the dismal Pakistan batting to move on course for a 3-0 clean sweep on the opening day of the third Test at Edgbaston.
After ripping out the tourists for only 133, England already have an 23-run advantage on 156-4.
Following a week of turmoil in which Pakistan sent seven players home, called up seven more and changed their coach, the outcome was much the same as the first two Tests.
Though the dry pitch seemed good for batting, a moody morning sky convinced England captain Joe Root to field first and his new-look pace attack was outstanding once more.
Pakistan failed to reach 200 for the fifth consecutive innings, while none of the top five made double figures. Saud Shakeel at least managed 43 and the ineptitude of the top order was put into context by last-wicket pair Muhammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali adding 26 in 46 balls – the best partnership of the innings.
Josh Tongue bowled quickly for his 4-42, Ollie Robinson passed 100 Test wickets with his 3-15 and Jofra Archer claimed the remaining three scalps.
In truth, it was a disappointing and dispiriting spectacle, but Pakistan showed some fight with the ball, not least when rapid debutant Razaullah inflicted yet another lbw on Root to leave England 39-3.
Emilio Gay and Harry Brook steadied England, each making half-centuries in a stand of 104 that pushed the hosts into the lead.
Gay dragged on off Razaullah. His gritty 60 was impressive, if perhaps not enough to provide certainty around his place in a congested England batting line-up.
The FIA’s rules permit only one automobile club or national sporting authority per country.
Feldman’s letter demands that Ben Sulayem suspends Russia’s membership, re-imposes “strict restrictions on Russian athletes’ participation in international competitions”, and makes a statement that publicly declares, on behalf of the FIA, that “the forcible redistribution of sporting authority is unacceptable”.
The letter comes a week after Ukraine’s minister for youth and sport told BBC Sport the FIA was wrong to lift the ban on Russian competitors.
Matvii Bidnyi said: “The reasons why Russia was banned from international sports competition have not disappeared. Nothing changes and it became even worse.”
“Russia continues full-scale aggression against Ukraine. Belarus continues to provide military support to Russia. Ukrainian people are still being killed every day. And Russian attacks become more and more brutal.
“I don’t understand, and Ukrainian people and I know that all European people don’t understand what’s happened, why now we must make this policy softer.”
The ban on Russian and Belarusian competitors taking part in international motorsport events was imposed in February 2022, after Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine.
It was lifted on 3 August in a decision by the FIA’s world motorsport council. This followed the International Olympic Committee, with which the FIA is affiliated, lifting its own ban.
Other sporting authorities, such as World Athletics, have not followed suit.
The Russian Embassy in London said in a statement to BBC Sport last week: “Excluding Russian athletes from international competitions amounts to segregation based on nationality and is incompatible with the principles of the Olympic charter.
“The FIA’s decision to lift the restrictions on Russian competitors in international motorsport is a step in the right direction. It shows that common sense is gradually prevailing over political bias in major sporting federations.”
The FIA has been contacted for comment.
Chelsea 6-3 Leeds: Xabi Alonso ‘takes responsibility’ as Palmer, Rogers and Welbeck rescue Blues in cup
England vs Pakistan: Bowlers rout tourists before runs for Emilio Gay and Harry Brook
FIA: Ukraine automobile federation calls for sanctions on Russian counterpart
Max Verstappen interview: Red Bull driver on McLaren talks, ‘numb’ cars and why he speaks his mind
Trent Alexander-Arnold: Real Madrid right-back returns to midfield
Jordan Ayew: Sheffield United sign veteran forward on deal to end of season
Big Bash League: Cricket Australia to privatise T20 tournament
US Open 2026 results: Lucky loser Arthur Gea is beaten by Botic van de Zandschulp in New York classic
English Open: Zhao Xintong stunned by Oliver Lines in first round
Edu: Nottingham Forest’s global head of football leaves club
