F1 Reigning Champion Max Verstappen has confirmed he will remain at Red Bull Racing next season, putting an end to speculation about his future. The 27-year-old driver’s commitment to the team comes after Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff indicated that Verstappen was still of interest to his team.
Verstappen finished fourth in last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix and now sits third in the F1 standings, making it mathematically impossible for him to leave Red Bull. In a news conference in Hungary, Verstappen stated that he never intended to discuss his contract or future plans, but felt it was time to “stop all the rumours” about his remaining at the team.
Verstappen signed a contract with Red Bull in 2022 to remain with the team until the end of the 2028 season. Following the ousting of team principal Christian Horner, who has been replaced by former Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies, Verstappen believes that the arrival of Mekies will bring a fresh perspective and opportunity for the team to reset its operations.
Verstappen expressed his excitement about working with Mekies, describing him as “very motivated” and someone who asks important questions. While this season has seen little benefit from the changes within the team, Verstappen hopes that in the coming years, they can see a positive impact on their performance.
Source: https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/45868131/max-verstappen-stay-red-bull-2026