For the second year in a row at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, discussions about Max Verstappen`s future with the Red Bull team were a major topic.
Last March, Verstappen seemed close to leaving the team due to significant internal conflict and instability within Red Bull`s management and his own team. After this difficult phase, Verstappen secured his fourth consecutive drivers` championship, which temporarily eased the speculation about his plans.
Despite being under contract with Red Bull until the end of 2028, rumors about his future continue. This is because his contract includes clauses that could allow him to leave.
One reported escape route last year was a clause allegedly allowing Verstappen to leave if Red Bull`s motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko, departed the team.
This year, the inconsistency of Red Bull`s performance early in the season has fueled speculation. Many, including Marko, believe the sport`s top driver won`t tolerate a car that prevents him from competing for additional championships for long.
Another, more typical contract clause reportedly allows Verstappen to terminate his agreement at the season`s end if he is outside the top three in the Drivers` Championship standings by the summer break.
The probability of this scenario has fluctuated greatly through the first five races, sometimes even session by session. Verstappen has often shown frustration while struggling in practice, only to dramatically improve and become a contender in qualifying and races.
Following a challenging weekend for Red Bull in Bahrain, where Verstappen finished sixth after a dominant win in Japan the previous week, Marko stated his `great concern` regarding the 27-year-old driver`s future with the team.
While his pole position and second-place finish in Jeddah, which helped consolidate his third position in the drivers` standings, should have eased those concerns, several comments made throughout the weekend offered new and interesting details regarding his overall future.
Wolff: Mercedes Has Not Discussed Future with Verstappen
Around this time last year, when Red Bull was experiencing significant off-track issues, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff publicly pursued Verstappen as he needed a replacement for Lewis Hamilton, who was moving to Ferrari.
Wolff ultimately failed in his attempt to sign Verstappen for 2025, as Mercedes decided to partner George Russell with Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli. However, the Austrian hinted that he might try to sign Verstappen again later.
Recent issues at Red Bull, coupled with the fact that neither Russell nor Antonelli have contracts extending beyond the current season, have fueled speculation that Mercedes is discreetly attempting to recruit Verstappen again.
Although Mercedes has been mostly uncompetitive since the current regulations began in 2022, many predict they will perform strongly when new engines and chassis are introduced next year (2026).
This makes them a credible candidate to sign Verstappen, but Wolff is publicly refraining from confirming his interest on this occasion.
Speaking in Jeddah on Saturday, he stated that Mercedes has `haven`t had a conversation` with Verstappen. He also repeated his earlier comment that he wouldn`t `flirt outside if I`m happy in the relationship,` referring to his satisfaction with the current driver pairing.
Despite Wolff`s comments, few within the F1 paddock believe he would hesitate to sign Verstappen if the opportunity arose.
Could Alonso Make Way at Aston Martin?
Aston Martin is another team strongly linked with Verstappen. Reports in the Italian press last week suggested the Silverstone-based team is prepared to offer him £226 million over three years.
Lawrence Stroll, owner of Aston Martin, is determined to turn his team into championship contenders. He has already implemented key changes, including constructing a new factory and recruiting Adrian Newey, Verstappen`s former colleague at Red Bull, as managing technical partner.
The complication here is that Aston Martin already has two drivers under contract for the 2026 season: Fernando Alonso and the owner`s son, Lance Stroll.
It is assumed that Lance Stroll will remain with the team as long as his father is in charge. Therefore, signing Verstappen for 2026 would likely mean the end of 43-year-old Alonso`s racing career with the team.
When asked in Saudi Arabia on Thursday if he saw Verstappen as a threat to his 2026 seat, Alonso replied: `I don`t think so, as I have a contract for next year.`
Alonso also added that after driving Aston Martin`s first Newey-designed car in 2026, he would be open to transitioning into a different role within the team to potentially make space for Verstappen`s arrival.
Speaking at the team principals` press conference in Jeddah on Friday, Aston Martin chief Andy Cowell focused on their contracted 2026 driver line-up instead of directly answering questions about Verstappen.
`We`re incredibly fortunate to have two experienced drivers signed for the next two years,` Cowell stated. `That allows me to concentrate on improving the team and developing a fast race car.`
Could Verstappen Consider a Sabbatical?
There are also whispers in the paddock suggesting that if Verstappen were to leave his Red Bull contract early, he might take a break (sabbatical) in 2026. During this time, he could evaluate the competitive situation and decide on the best option for 2027 and subsequent years.
It`s difficult to imagine a driver at the height of his career taking a year off. However, Verstappen has frequently mentioned the demands of the sport`s intense schedule and how much he values spending time with family and friends.
It`s also worth considering that if he takes this path, Ferrari could become an option, especially as Lewis Hamilton`s contract might end after 2026.
The Dutch driver has previously described Ferrari as `an amazing team to race for` but also qualified this by stating his main priority is always `to be in the fastest car.`
Alternatively, he could choose to exit his current Red Bull contract but then negotiate a new deal with the team for an even higher salary than the reported £50 million per year he currently earns.
This approach would also allow Verstappen to sign a new contract with Red Bull specifically for 2026, rather than extending to 2028, thus keeping his options open for 2027.
`Everyone`s Talking About It, Except Me!`
When asked about the situation in Jeddah on Thursday, Verstappen clearly wasn`t interested in generating headlines.
Regarding the speculation about his future, Verstappen commented: `A lot of people are talking about it, except me.`
`I just want to focus on my car and work with the team members,` he added. `That`s all I`m thinking about in F1 right now. I`m very relaxed.`
Ultimately, if Red Bull consistently provides Verstappen with the performance level seen in Saudi Arabia, the discussions will likely fade as he competes for a fifth consecutive championship.
However, the clear indication that neither Mercedes nor Aston Martin are ruling out trying to sign Verstappen for next season is significant, suggesting they still believe there`s a possibility.
It`s reasonable to assume that if Red Bull`s performance remains unpredictable, the paddock`s attention will be keenly focused on Verstappen`s position in the drivers` standings in a couple of months.
Gilbert Pendleton