Red Bull retains Max Verstappen through 2026, dispelling all speculation
Max Verstappen, the four-time and reigning World Champion, has put an end to the speculation surrounding his future beyond the 2026 Formula 1 season. In a statement made to the media before the upcoming race in Budapest, Verstappen confirmed that he will remain with Red Bull Racing.
The announcement comes amidst the backdrop of the 2023 Formula One season, and amidst rumors of Verstappen potentially leaving Red Bull for Mercedes. However, Verstappen clarified that he is the only person who should be speaking about his future, and he prefers not to start throwing things around.
Verstappen seemed frustrated with the speculation surrounding his potential departure. He expressed his frustration by stating that people are "waffling" too much during the season. The Dutch driver made it clear that he intends to remain with Red Bull for next year as well and beyond.
Verstappen's Red Bull contract extends to 2028, but it included performance-based exit clauses allowing him to leave earlier if he was outside top positions mid-season. Specifically for 2026, he could have exited if he was fourth or lower in the championship standings after the Hungarian Grand Prix break.
However, Verstappen's strong results, especially at the Belgian Grand Prix weekend (notably a sprint race victory), pushed him to third in the standings, preventing rivals from overtaking him and thus disabling the exit clause. This, coupled with Verstappen's explicit confirmations, has secured his future at Red Bull Racing.
Verstappen has already started discussing plans and changes for the Red Bull Racing car for the 2023 season. It is expected that these discussions will continue as Red Bull prepares for the upcoming regulation cycle, which will make the 2026 season highly competitive with teams like Aston Martin and Ferrari gearing up with new engines and big investments.
Mercedes had expressed clear interest in signing Verstappen if he became available, with team principal Toto Wolff openly discussing conversations with his entourage. However, Wolff later indicated a preference to retain their existing driver lineup, making Verstappen's departure less likely.
The announcement was made after Red Bull Racing fired team principal Christian Horner. Ferrari recently renewed a contract with its team principal, Fred Vasseur. The upcoming race in Budapest leads into a three-week summer break in Formula One racing.
Verstappen also made it clear that he intends to stop all the rumors and clarify that he was staying with Red Bull. He used a metaphor, saying that if his boat is next to Toto's, then his boat is next to Toto's, referring to his relationship with Mercedes' Toto.
In summary, as of mid-2025, Max Verstappen's future beyond 2026 is secure at Red Bull Racing, reinforced by performance results that blocked contract escape clauses and explicit confirmations from Verstappen and Red Bull representatives. The Dutch driver will continue his quest for Formula 1 dominance with Red Bull Racing in the upcoming seasons.
Sports enthusiasts can rejoice as Max Verstappen, the four-time Formula 1 World Champion, has reaffirmed his commitment to sports, specifically in the realm of racing, by signing an extension with Red Bull Racing beyond the 2026 season. This decision comes amidst the 2023 Formula One season, where Verstappen has demonstrated exceptional performance.
