Christian Horner, head of Red Bull Racing, has stated that it`s “impossible to say 100 percent” whether Max Verstappen will still be driving for the team in 2026.
Reports originating from Italy ahead of this weekend`s British Grand Prix suggest that talks between Verstappen and Mercedes are becoming more serious, hinting at a potentially surprising switch for the Dutch driver.
Verstappen`s future has been a dominant topic in F1 recently, particularly after Mercedes` George Russell and Toto Wolff confirmed that “conversations” had occurred with the 27-year-old, despite his current Red Bull contract extending until 2028.
Speaking about their relationship, Horner said they have a strong bond with Max and understand their position within their confidential agreement. He emphasized that their focus is on performance, adding, “If things stay as they are, 100 per cent he will be with us next year.”
When pressed on the certainty of Verstappen staying long-term, Horner responded, “It`s impossible to say 100 per cent,” and posed a rhetorical question about George Russell`s guaranteed presence at Mercedes next year.
Verstappen himself has consistently avoided confirming his future with Red Bull beyond this season. It is understood that his contract contains a performance clause allowing him to depart after the current season if he is not ranked within the top four in the Drivers` Championship standings by the start of the F1 summer break, following the Hungarian Grand Prix on August 3.
Currently, Verstappen sits 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 remaining before the summer break. A maximum of 83 points are available in these upcoming events, including a Sprint weekend in Belgium.
For the first time publicly, Horner acknowledged the existence of performance-related clauses within Verstappen`s contract.
He stated that driver contracts are always confidential but confirmed that “With any drivers contract, there is an element of a performance mechanism and that exists within Max`s contract.”
Horner asserted that Verstappen`s intention is “Absolutely, his intention is that he will be there and driving for us in 2026.” He acknowledged the “inevitable” interest from other teams but stressed the importance of clear communication between Max and the Red Bull team.
Horner suggested that George Russell initiated much of the speculation, likely “probably trying to leverage his own situation and force clarity,” which Horner deemed understandable given Russell`s strong performance this season.
Despite the rumors, there has reportedly been no formal offer from Mercedes for Verstappen, who has a long history with the Red Bull family, starting in 2014 and making his F1 debut with Toro Rosso in 2015 before joining the main Red Bull team in 2016, where he has secured four world championships.
Horner reiterated the significance of the driver-team relationship and their defining agreement, adding, “Internally, we know where we`re at.” He emphasized the clear understanding within the team and highlighted Verstappen`s long tenure and success with Red Bull. Horner expressed confidence in Verstappen`s faith in the team and their comfort level despite external speculation.
F1 faces significant rule changes next year, introducing a new car era expected to reshuffle competitiveness. Mercedes is widely anticipated to be strong, recalling their dominance after the last engine regulation change in the turbo-hybrid era.
Red Bull is developing its own power unit with Ford, and historically, new engine suppliers often face challenges in being immediately competitive. This historical trend fuels speculation about whether Verstappen would be willing to stay during this potentially transitional period.
Horner acknowledged that “things go in cycles and sport goes in cycles” and stated Red Bull aims to build towards the next successful phase after two dominant periods. He believes Red Bull will be competitive with their new power unit, perhaps even comparable to their current standing relative to rivals, emphasizing that the future holds many possibilities.
He stated their desire for Max to be part of this next cycle but recognized the “enormous” challenge and pressure of being a new power unit manufacturer. He wryly noted that being ahead of Mercedes next year “would be embarrassing for Mercedes,” implying the high expectations for the established manufacturer.
Horner also highlighted the benefit of having chassis and engine development integrated “under one roof,” calling this direct communication “priceless.” He anticipates this synergy paying off, perhaps not immediately in 2026, but certainly in the long term (2027, 2028, and beyond), confirming it`s the right strategic direction for Red Bull.
Marcus Prine