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The stakes are high for every team in Formula 1's new era, but perhaps no team has as much to lose as Red Bull. Because a slow car or engine for any team, though it would be a disaster, can be fixed over time, but there's no way anyone could replace a driver of Max Verstappen's ability.

Make no mistake, that is what's on the line for Red Bull in 2026. Despite all the paddock rumours, and the best efforts of Mercedes chief Toto Wolff, there was never really any risk of the Dutchman walking away last year. Red Bull were sure of that even before Christian Horner, and the problems surrounding the British chief, went away.

Even if Verstappen had been considering an exit, he was too high up the drivers' standings to be able to trigger one of his contract's exit clauses. In any case, he wasn't ever prepared to commit his future to a team without knowing what the balance of power will look like from this year. And, still, no one does yet.

Red Bull put Verstappen into title contention in each of the last five seasons. But they are making their own engines for the first time, with the help of Ford, and the aerodynamics rules are also very different to before. There is no guaranteeing that Red Bull will even be in contention to win races, never mind the championship.

Verstappen has loyalty to Red Bull and, after losing one of his closest allies in axed team adviser Helmut Marko, keeping another in race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase is a key win for Red Bull this winter. But making things still feel like home for their star man may not matter if the RB22, unveiled in Detroit this week, is not up to scratch on track.

Team principal Laurent Mekies admitted at that event that he expects Red Bull "to be trailing" their rivals to start with. Verstappen, 28, does not intend to have a relatively long F1 career and he won't be content spending the last few years of it driving around in the midfield.

His contract details are confidential, but it's understood he could be free to leave Red Bull at the end of the coming season if he is not at least second in the drivers' championship at the summer break. He doesn't play nice with team-mates, but every other team knows there is no better driver on the grid. There hasn't been for years.

So there will be no shortage of takers if Verstappen decides to chase the quickest car he can get. Mercedes will no doubt revive their interest, while Aston Martin will throw everything they can at Verstappen. Might even Ferrari make a play, especially if Lewis Hamilton continues to struggle this year?

There is hope, though, that Red Bull have exploited an engine loophole that only Mercedes also seem to have spotted. Rival manufacturers are up in arms but Red Bull are adamant their engines are legal.

Could that be the crucial design decision which keeps Verstappen at Red Bull for his whole F1 career? We'll find out in the coming months.