[Saba Sports News] As speculation over Max Verstappen’s future continues to heat up, former Red Bull driver and current manager of Oscar Piastri, Mark Webber, has publicly stated that one of Formula 1’s top priorities right now is to keep Verstappen in the sport.
Since the start of the 2026 season, Verstappen’s dissatisfaction with the new regulations has been an open secret. The revised power unit rules, which rely far more heavily on energy recovery and deployment, have drawn repeated public criticism from the four-time Formula 1 World Champion. He argues that modern cars are forced to deliberately slow down through certain corners to store more energy for deployment on subsequent straights, which goes against the true essence of motorsport — the pursuit of ultimate speed. Although the FIA and Formula 1 have made partial rule adjustments, including revising energy deployment strategies and planning to rebalance the power ratio between electric systems and internal combustion engines in 2027, Verstappen remains unwavering in his stance. After the Miami Grand Prix, he bluntly stated that the underlying issues still exist. The only difference is that the current Red Bull car is easier to drive than it was at the start of the season, easing his frustrations slightly.
From Webber’s perspective, Formula 1 cannot afford to lose Verstappen by any measure. He believes a driver with Verstappen’s dominant talent and strong personality is one of the sport’s biggest attractions. Many fans tune in specifically to watch him race, and he has emerged as a leading figure in the same league as Michael Schumacher.
In the editor’s opinion, by ranking Verstappen alongside Michael Schumacher as a defining figure of Formula 1, Webber is not merely comparing career achievements, but highlighting Verstappen’s irreplaceable value to the sport. Though different in driving style and personal demeanour, Verstappen has firmly secured his place among the greatest drivers in F1 history.