Sky Sports commentator David Croft has suggested that Max Verstappen is attempting to manoeuvre out of Red Bull following another disappointing performance at the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix.
Speculation linking Verstappen to McLaren has intensified in recent weeks, with talks supposedly underway between the Dutchman’s camp and the reigning Constructors’ champions.
Red Bull’s performance has declined substantially in 2026, the RB22 operating in a narrow window that often proves difficult to master.
This car trait once again reared its head in Hungary, as Verstappen complained of issues, spinning on his last lap of qualifying for the second time in 2026, having repeated the unfortunate feat in Austria.
Verstappen was vocal on the radio during qualifying in the buildup to the spin, lambasting on the radio: “Mate, the car is just completely broken aerodynamically, it’s just getting worse and worse. What a joke. What. A. Joke, honestly. What a s**t weekend,”
Although the four-time world champion salvaged his weekend with a second-place finish on race day, he continued to believe that his car was falling apart,
Croft has questioned why Verstappen is raising so many issues with his RB22.
“What’s the underlying reason?” Croft said on the F1 Show podcast.
“Is there something behind this? Is there a genuine issue, or does Max just want to put it out there that he’s not satisfied with where he’s at?
“From what I understand, the Red Bull is a decent car when it’s in perfect condition. But when there’s a slight discrepancy, a little bit of damage caused by a stone kicking up, or the front wing has had some contact, it doesn’t take much to throw it out of kilter.
“And when you throw it out of kilter, then it becomes very, very hard to drive. It’s on a knife-edge all the time. When it’s good, it’s very, very good. When it’s slightly bad, it’s ugly.
David Croft questions Max Verstappen motives
Croft surmised that Verstappen may have ulterior motives for his vocal criticism of the RB22, believing it could be part of a tactic to depart Red Bull.
“For Max to be complaining as much as he was, constantly throughout that race, that makes me think that there’s other motives afoot here.
“What they are, then who knows?
“Are Max and his representatives, as a team together, trying to engineer a way out of Red Bull and maybe into McLaren?
“Could that happen? We keep talking about it but we don’t know the answer.”
Croft’s theory is an intriguing take on the growing speculation as F1 enters its mandatory summer shutdown.
Answers on Verstappen’s future are not expected until October, when the four-time world champion is contractually obligated to inform Red Bull if he will activate the exit clause in his contract.
The much-reported clause allows Verstappen to break his contract with the team he has enjoyed so much success with, if he is not in the top two in the championship by the start of the summer break.
Currently placed sixth, the Dutchman faces a momentous decision before F1 returns for his home race in Zandvoort.
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