Max Verstappen continues to make history for Red Bull Racing as he featured once again in a historic Hungarian Grand Prix.
The Dutchman has smashed records during his career so far, going on to win four drivers’ championships in consecutive years.
Despite those previous successes, it has been a difficult season for Max Verstappen and Red Bull as the summer break arrives.
While rumours have persisted over Verstappen’s future, the 27-year-old looks set to stay and cement himself in his seat for 2026.
He goes into it as a record breaker, having set another one for his team during the Hungarian Grand Prix.
- READ MORE: Hint dropped on major driver move by F1 Team Principal, He wants to hold onto his drivers
Max Verstappen becomes the first Red Bull driver to reach 200 Grand Prix starts
Max Verstappen’s career at Red Bull has been littered with record-breaking moments and memorable drives.
Having been embroiled in a fast-paced environment, with plenty of changes to teams and driver lineups, the Dutchman has been something of an ever-present force.
That is shown in the fact that, at the Hungarian Grand Prix, Verstappen became the first Red Bull driver to reach 200 Grand Prix starts.
The current world champion was already the record holder within the team for the most starts, ahead of the likes of Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel, and Daniel Ricciardo.
| Driver | Grand Prix starts |
|---|---|
| Max Verstappen | 200 |
| Mark Webber | 129 |
| Sebastian Vettel | 113 |
| Daniel Ricciardo | 100 |
| Sergio Perez | 90 |
It shows the impact Verstappen has had since joining the team, but also just how important he is for their future.
Red Bull rebuild must be built around Max Verstappen
Red Bull are now facing something of a rebuild, following Christian Horner’s exit as team principal this season.
With a car that hasn’t been quite as competitive and difficulties surrounding the second seat, it’s clear that Verstappen must be at the centre of any rebuild.
There are new regulations for 2026, which could make for a shake-up at the top of the championships and could push Red Bull in either direction.
So, with changes in the hierarchy, with the engineers and uncertainty over the second seat, it’s clear that the one bit of consistency they have is with Verstappen.
Regardless of how much will move in the background, Red Bull need to work around their star in the first seat.