At a press conference before the Hungarian Grand Prix this week, Max Verstappen reaffirmed his commitment to remain with Red Bull Racing for the 2026 season, effectively ending widespread speculation about a move to Mercedes.
Verstappen, the four-time Formula 1 world champion, is under contract through 2028, and his performance-linked exit clauses became moot after finishing fourth in the Belgian Grand Prix, ensuring he’d sit third or higher in the championship at summer break—a threshold that had potentially allowed him to leave.
He stated: “I think it’s time to stop all the rumours. For me, it was always quite clear that I was staying anyway, and that was the general feeling in the team,” citing ongoing internal dialogue about car improvements and future plans as further confirmation of mutual commitment.
Red Bull has recently undergone a major leadership shift, dismissing long-time team principal Christian Horner in early July 2025. He was replaced by Laurent Mekies, signaling potential restructuring behind the scenes. Yet Verstappen emphasized Horner’s dismissal did not alter his decision—he remains focused on performance and championship objectives.
Mercedes had publicly expressed interest in Verstappen, and their driver, George Russell, acknowledged that talks about his own 2026 contract would resume after the summer break amid this speculation. With Verstappen staying at Red Bull, broader driver-market shifts appear likely to be delayed until post-2026.