Rumors swirled, anticipation built, and the prevailing thought that defending four-time world champion Max Verstappen could be having his swan song with Red Bull.
The car isn’t performing, the field is getting tougher. And Mercedes CEO and team principal Toto Wolff has made no secret that he’d love to see Verstappen commandeering the prime spot for the silver arrows. What’s more, George Russell, the team’s current ace, is racing on a contract that expires at the season’s end.
However, despite all of the plane tracking and posturing, Verstappen finally capitulated, publicly slamming the rumors while telling reporters that he will be back with Red Bull in 2026.
“Some people just like to stir the pot, some people just like to create drama, but for me it’s always been quite clear and also for next year,” Verstappen said. “I’m discussing with the team already the plans, the things that we want to change next year, so that means I’m also staying with the team for next year, and if my boat is next to Toto’s, then the boat is next to Toto’s.
“You can have a personal relationship with someone even if you don’t have a working relationship with someone.”
Just because he essentially calls it rumor mongering doesn’t mean there wasn’t truth to his consideration of making a switch. After all, the best drivers want to be in the best cars. And though Mercedes isn’t what it was a few years ago, with Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas dominating and helping the team win constructors’ championships, it’s still a far cry above what Red Bull has put out there the past few seasons.
With other rumors about the stymying of a Porsche deal, and the subsequent Ford motor potentially not performing up to expectations in the 2026 modeling, it would stand to reason that Verstappen would weigh his options.
However, for now, he appears set to dance with the one that brought him, though it wouldn’t be surprising to see him jump ship after next year if Red Bull cannot improve its standing.
Verstappen is under contract until 2028, but this will be a story to monitor for at least another year.
