Max Verstappen quells speculation by committing to Red Bull for 2026

BUDAPEST – Max Verstappen ended weeks of speculation about his future on July 31, when the reigning Formula One world champion said that he would be staying with Red Bull in 2026.

The Dutchman said it was time to “stop all the rumours”.

“I’ve never really said anything about it because I was just focused on talking to the team about how we can improve our performance,” he explained ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix on Aug 3.

“And that’s why I had nothing really to add, but I think it’s time to basically stop all the rumours. For me, it’s always been quite clear that I was staying anyway.”

His remarks follow team adviser Helmut Marko’s confirmation on July 28 that the 27-year-old would not be leaving. 

The four-time world champion’s future became a subject of speculation after rival driver George Russell revealed that his Mercedes team were talking to the Dutchman’s management about his plans.

It emerged that there was a performance clause in Verstappen’s contract that offered him a chance to leave Red Bull if he was not in the top three of the drivers’ championship at the end of July.

But that clause has now elapsed and he will stay with Red Bull in 2026, the first season following a sweeping change of technical regulations.

He is contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2028 and a similar scrutiny of his contract is expected in 2026 once it becomes clear which teams have adapted and progressed best under the new regulations.

Red Bull are in a state of flux, after sacking their team principal Christian Horner in July and replacing the Briton with Laurent Mekies, the boss of ‘B’ team Racing Bulls.

Horner’s departure will have pleased Verstappen’s father Jos, who in 2024 turned against the man who had led Red Bull from their launch following an accusation by a woman colleague of “inappropriate behaviour”.

But the Briton was twice cleared by the Formula One team’s parent company, Red Bull GmbH, over the claims.

At the Belgian Grand Prix last weekend, Verstappen insisted Horner’s shock departure had no impact on his plans. He said the well-publicised discord between his father and Horner was never a problem.

“People can have a difference of opinion and I expect that to happen because if everyone agrees, there is a problem,” he said.

On July 31, when asked about his future after next year, he replied: “If you ask me that question next year, then yes, we’ll have that speculation, but I never speak about it because I am more interested in working on performance – and that’s why I never really talk about what is in my contract.”

Despite McLaren and their two drivers Piastri and Lando Norris dominating this season, Verstappen also said he still retained hopes of gaining some success before the end of the year.

“I know that the cars will be different next year, but there are still things that you can take out of this year on the engineering side of things and also implement for next year,” he added.

“So, you cannot just say ‘Okay, we’re not winning the championship this year, so we just write it off completely’. No one really knows where they will be at next year.”

Meanwhile, Piastri accepted that the title race was now effectively between him and Norris.

He leads his British teammate by 16 points ahead of the race in Hungary, the last before the August break, with Verstappen a further 65 points back.

“I suppose so,” the Australian told reporters when asked if it was now a two-horse race.

“Every weekend now, or the last few weekends anyway, it has been Lando and I. I expect our competition to still be strong and put up a good fight... I’m just trying to win each race and extend the lead.” AFP, REUTERS