Reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen officially confirmed on Thursday that he will remain with Red Bull through the 2026 season, putting an end to weeks of speculation about his next contract. The announcement came ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring circuit, where Verstappen emphasized his focus on improving performance rather than discussing his contract details.
Verstappen’s Commitment Despite Contract Rumors
Verstappen addressed the contract rumors directly, saying it was time to “stop all the rumours.” He explained that he had remained silent because his attention was centered on working with the team to enhance their results.
“I’ve never really said anything about it because I was just focused on talking to the team about how we can improve our performance,”
the Dutchman stated.
He added,
“For me, it’s always been quite clear that I was staying anyway.”
The Dutch driver’s contract reportedly includes a performance clause allowing him to exit Red Bull if he was not ranked in the top three drivers by the end of July, but that clause has since expired.
Context Behind the Contract and Team Changes
Verstappen’s ongoing future at Red Bull became highly discussed after rival driver George Russell from Mercedes revealed talks with the Dutchman’s management about possible moves. Despite McLaren’s Oscar Piastri leading the championship this season and Verstappen sitting 81 points behind in third place, Verstappen remains under contract until the end of 2028.
Red Bull is currently undergoing significant internal changes, having recently replaced team principal Christian Horner with Laurent Mekies, who previously headed their junior team, Racing Bulls. This shift followed accusations of inappropriate behaviour against Horner, though investigations by Red Bull GmbH cleared him twice.
Verstappen previously commented that Horner’s departure would not affect his decision to stay. He also addressed ongoing tensions involving his father, Jos Verstappen, and Horner, noting:
“People can have a difference of opinion and I expect that to happen because if everyone agrees, there is a problem.”
Looking Ahead Beyond 2026 and Season Prospects
When asked whether contract speculation would arise again next year, Verstappen remained focused on performance over contract negotiations, stating:
“If you ask me that question next year, then yes, we’ll have that speculation, but I never speak about it because I am more interested in working on performance – and that’s why I never really talk about what is in my contract.”
Despite pressure from McLaren’s strong season performance, led by Piastri and teammate Lando Norris, Verstappen expressed optimism for the remainder of the year and the future.
He noted that while major technical regulations will change next year, insights gained this season will benefit next year’s car development:
“I know that the cars will be different next year, but there are still things that you can take out of this year on the engineering side of things and also implement for next year.”
He added that abandoning hopes for a championship this year is premature since the situation remains uncertain:
“No-one really knows where they will be at next year.”
Significance of Verstappen’s Decision for Red Bull and Formula 1
Verstappen’s decision to stay with Red Bull through 2026 secures the team’s key driver position amid a period of transition. The next season will introduce sweeping technical rule changes, making Verstappen’s continuity important for Red Bull’s strategy moving forward. Meanwhile, the internal leadership change with Mekies stepping in as team principal signals a fresh direction for the squad.
With Verstappen under contract until 2028, attention will turn next year to evaluating team progress under new regulations and whether contractual clauses will again be examined. For now, Verstappen’s commitment offers stability as he aims to close the gap with championship leader Oscar Piastri and maintain Red Bull’s competitive edge in the evolving Formula 1 landscape.