The future of Max Verstappen has been under intense speculation ever since the Austrian GP. George Russell and Toto Wolff had both confirmed Mercedes were in talks with the four-time world champion. Details of a release clause in Verstappen’s contract also emerged, as well as reports that Mercedes were willing to buy out the Dutchman’s contract.
Red Bull were keen to keep their star driver, who has scored most of the team’s points this season. An F1 insider has now revealed that Max Verstappen is due to stay at the team which brought him his success.
Max Verstappen to stay at Red Bull following Mercedes interest
F1 journalist Erik Van Haren has claimed Max Verstappen is due to stay at Red Bull for the 2026 season. The Dutchman has a contract until 2028, but an exit clause in his contract would allow him to reportedly exit the team if he is in fourth place by the summer break.
However, after the Belgian GP, Verstappen is 28 points ahead of fourth-placed George Russell. This means that even if Russell wins next time out in Hungary, he cannot overtake Verstappen. Van Haren also reports that Verstappen is “feeling comfortable” at Red Bull, and is “currently very pleased with his collaboration with new team principal Laurent Mekies.”
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Due to Verstappen’s decision, it is now likely that Mercedes will extend the contracts of George Russell and Kimi Anotnelli, both of whose were expiring at the end of this season. Wolff had indicated after Silverstone that he wanted to continue with his driver pairing. The Verstappen saga is over, for now.
What will Max Verstappen do for the 2027 season?
Although it is good for Red Bull that Max Verstappen is staying for the 2026 season, there is still a chance the 27-year-old is biding his time to find the right move for him going forward. The 2026 season will have a new regulation cycle, and who has the best car is a big unknown.
Red Bull is reportedly lagging behind other teams. They are creating their first-ever power unit, in collaboration with Ford. This is a gamble as they have to play catch-up to the current engine manufacturers like Mercedes and Ferrari. However, Verstappen will assess their pace to see if remaining in Milton Keynes is the right option.
A choice for Verstappen could be a move to Mercedes, which has already been in talks with him. The Silver Arrows are predicted to have the best engine for 2026, meaning they could dominate the new cycle for many seasons. However, Mercedes have been off the pace over the last few seasons, so Verstappen will be able to judge their performance over the 2026 season to see if a move to Brackley would help him win championships.
The other option could be a move to Aston Martin. This would give Verstappen a chance to link up with design legend Adrian Newey and engine manufacturer Honda, who helped him achieve his success
The smart move for Verstappen is to remain at Red Bull for 2026 and choose his next path for 2027 after evaluating the field. But where will he drive in 2027? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
