Christian Horner, the Red Bull team principal, has stated that it is “impossible to say 100 per cent” that Max Verstappen will remain with the team for the 2026 season.
Recent reports, emerging ahead of the British Grand Prix, have indicated that discussions between Verstappen and Mercedes are becoming more intense, suggesting the Dutch driver is potentially open to a surprising move to the Silver Arrows.
Speculation regarding the 27-year-old`s future has been a dominant topic in Formula 1 over the past week, particularly after Mercedes figures including George Russell and Toto Wolff acknowledged having “conversations” with Verstappen, whose current contract with Red Bull extends until 2028.
Horner commented on the situation, saying, “We have a great relationship with Max. We know where we stand within the agreement, which will always remain confidential between him and the team.” He added, “We are just focused on performing. If things stay as they are, 100 per cent he will be with us next year.”
When pressed further for absolute certainty on Verstappen`s continuity, Horner`s response was more cautious: “It`s impossible to say 100 per cent. Is it clear George Russell will 100 per cent be at Mercedes next year?”
Verstappen himself has consistently refrained from explicitly confirming his presence at Red Bull for next season. It is understood that his contract contains a clause that could allow him to leave the team after the current season if he is not positioned within the top four of the Drivers` Championship standings by the commencement of the F1 summer break, which occurs after the Hungarian Grand Prix on August 3.
Currently, Verstappen is third in the championship standings, holding a nine-point lead over Russell and a 36-point advantage over Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, with three races scheduled before the summer break. These three events offer a potential maximum of 83 points, including the Belgian Grand Prix, which features a Sprint weekend.
For the first time publicly, Horner confirmed the existence of performance clauses in Verstappen`s contract. He explained, “The contracts between the drivers and the teams are always going to remain confidential. With any driver`s contract, there is an element of a performance mechanism and that exists within Max`s contract.”
Horner stated, “Absolutely, his intention is that he will be there and driving for us in 2026. It`s inevitable that he`s of huge interest to any other team in the pit lane.” He suggested, “George triggered all this speculation, probably trying to leverage his own situation and force clarity, which you can understand because he`s driven a very good season as well this year.”
He concluded on this point by saying, “Inevitably, there will always be speculation about that. I think the most important thing is that clarity exists between Max and the team.”
Red Bull Confident in Verstappen Situation
Despite the rumours, it is understood there has been no formal approach from Mercedes regarding Verstappen. Verstappen has been integral to the Red Bull family since 2014, making his F1 debut with Toro Rosso in 2015 before joining the main Red Bull team in 2016, where he has achieved significant success, winning multiple world titles.
Horner stressed the importance of the bond between driver and team, governed by their agreement. He added, “Everybody`s very clear on where we`re at. Max has been with Red Bull since the very start of his career. All his success has come in Red Bull cars and he`s a big part of our team.” He conveyed confidence, stating, “He has a great deal of faith in the team and the people around him. While there`s always going to be speculation and noise, I think we all sit fairly comfortable with where we`re at and what the situation is. We can`t control the narrative of others. Internally, we know where we`re at.”
The 2026 season is set to introduce the most significant rule changes in F1 history, featuring a new car concept expected to significantly alter the competitive landscape. Mercedes is widely predicted to be strong under these new regulations, based on their dominant performance during the initial phase of the turbo-hybrid era, the last time a major engine regulation change occurred.
Red Bull is currently developing their own power units in collaboration with Ford. Historically, it has been challenging for new engine manufacturers to immediately compete at the front, a factor that fuels the ongoing speculation about Verstappen`s potential willingness to stay with the team through this transitional period.
Horner acknowledged the cyclical nature of success in sport, stating, “Things go in cycles and sport goes in cycles. We`ve had two incredibly successful cycles in Formula 1, and what we want to do is build towards the next cycle.”
He confirmed their strong desire to continue with Verstappen, but acknowledged the substantial challenge ahead as they become a new power unit manufacturer next year. Horner expressed belief in the team`s highly capable personnel, significant investments, and positive team culture. He managed expectations regarding immediate performance relative to Mercedes, humorously suggesting it would be “embarrassing” for Mercedes, or any manufacturer, if Red Bull were instantly ahead.
Despite this, Horner anticipates Red Bull will be competitive, potentially maintaining their current standing relative to other power unit suppliers. He emphasized, “There`s everything to play for.”
Horner highlighted the considerable benefit of having chassis and engine engineers working together in the same facility, noting that this collaborative environment, referred to as being “under one roof,” should not be underestimated, particularly concerning car packaging.
He concluded that this ability for direct communication and collaboration between groups “over a cup of coffee and within the same facility” is “priceless” and will yield long-term benefits, perhaps becoming fully evident not in 2026, but in 2027, 2028, and beyond, making it definitively the “right thing” for Red Bull`s future.
Gilbert Pendleton