For the second consecutive year, Max Verstappen`s future with the Red Bull team was a significant talking point during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend.
Last March, amidst considerable instability and internal conflict within Red Bull`s leadership and the driver`s own camp, Verstappen seemed on the verge of leaving. That difficult period passed, and Verstappen went on to secure his fourth consecutive drivers` championship, which at least temporarily quieted the rumors about his position.
Despite being officially contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2028, speculation has persisted. This is because his agreement reportedly contains exit clauses.
One potential route for his departure last year was a clause that would allow Verstappen to leave if Red Bull`s motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko, were to depart the team.
This time, the speculation is fueled by Red Bull`s somewhat inconsistent start to the current season. Many, including Marko himself, believe that the sport`s leading driver will not tolerate a car that prevents him from challenging for more championships for long.
A more standard clause in his contract is understood to provide Verstappen with the opportunity to terminate his contract at the end of the season if he is not positioned within the top three of the Drivers` Championship standings by the summer break.
The likelihood of this scenario unfolding has dramatically fluctuated from week to week, and sometimes even within sessions, during the initial five rounds of the season. Verstappen has often expressed frustration while struggling in practice sessions, only to then show competitive pace in qualifying and the races.
Following Red Bull`s least impressive weekend of the season so far in Bahrain, where Verstappen finished sixth after unexpectedly winning against the faster McLarens in Japan the previous week, Marko stated he had `great concern` regarding the 27-year-old`s future with the team.
While Verstappen securing pole position and finishing second in Jeddah, thereby solidifying his third place in the standings, might have alleviated those concerns, several comments made over the weekend added interesting new dimensions to the overall discussion about his future.
Wolff: Mercedes Has Not Spoken with Verstappen
When Red Bull faced significant off-track turmoil at this time last year, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff openly expressed interest in signing Verstappen as he sought a replacement for Lewis Hamilton, who was heading to Ferrari.
Wolff eventually abandoned his attempt to sign Verstappen for 2025, as Mercedes paired Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli with George Russell. However, the Austrian hinted that he planned to resume his pursuit in the future.
The latest internal tension at Red Bull, coupled with the fact that neither Russell nor Antonelli are contracted beyond the end of the current season, has led many to speculate that Mercedes is discreetly attempting to recruit Verstappen once again.
Although Mercedes has been largely uncompetitive under the current technical regulations introduced in 2022, many anticipate they will perform strongly from next year with the introduction of new engine and chassis designs.
This potential competitive shift is why they are viewed as a genuinely plausible option for Verstappen. However, Wolff is publicly reluctant to confirm his interest on this occasion.
Speaking to reporters in Jeddah on Saturday, he stated that Mercedes has `not had a conversation` with Verstappen and repeated his earlier statement that he wouldn`t `flirt outside if I`m happy in the relationship,` referring to his satisfaction with his current driver lineup.
Despite Wolff`s public stance, few within the paddock believe he would hesitate to act decisively if an opportunity to sign Verstappen were to arise.
Would Alonso Make Way at Aston Martin?
Aston Martin is another team frequently mentioned in connection with Verstappen. Italian media reports last week claimed the team based in Silverstone is ready to offer him a contract worth £226 million over three years.
Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll is fully committed to transforming his team into a championship contender. He has already put several key elements in place, including constructing a brand-new factory and hiring Adrian Newey, Verstappen`s former colleague at Red Bull, as managing technical partner.
The complicating factor in this scenario is that Aston Martin already has two drivers contracted for the 2026 season: Fernando Alonso and the owner`s son, Lance Stroll.
It is generally assumed that Lance Stroll`s position is secure as long as his father owns the team. Therefore, bringing Verstappen in for 2026 would likely necessitate ending the driving career of the 43-year-old Alonso.
When asked in Saudi Arabia on Thursday if he considered Verstappen a threat to his 2026 seat, Alonso replied, `I don`t think so, as I have a contract for next year.`
Alonso later added that after driving Aston Martin`s first car designed under Newey`s technical guidance in 2026, he might be open to transitioning into a different role within the team to potentially accommodate Verstappen`s arrival.
During the team principals` press conference in Jeddah on Friday, Aston Martin`s team principal Andy Cowell chose to emphasize their confirmed driver lineup for 2026 rather than responding to questions about Verstappen.
Cowell stated, `We are extremely fortunate to have two seasoned drivers signed for the next two years. This allows me to concentrate solely on enhancing the team`s operations and the craft of building a competitive race car.`
Could Verstappen Take a Break?
There have also been whispers in the paddock suggesting that if Verstappen were to decide to leave his Red Bull contract early, he might consider taking a sabbatical in 2026. This would allow him time to assess the competitive landscape and choose what he believes is the best option for 2027 and beyond.
It`s challenging to imagine a driver at the peak of his abilities opting to step away for a year, but Verstappen has frequently spoken about the demands of the sport`s taxing schedule and how much he values downtime with his family and friends.
Notably, if Verstappen follows this path, Ferrari could emerge as another potential destination, particularly as Lewis Hamilton`s contract might conclude at the end of 2026.
The Dutchman has previously described Ferrari as `an amazing team to race for,` but he consistently qualifies this by stating that his primary goal is always to be in `the fastest car.`
Another possibility is that he could choose to leave his current Red Bull contract only to re-sign with them under improved terms, potentially earning more than his reported current salary of £50 million per year.
This strategy would also allow Verstappen to sign a new Red Bull contract specifically for the 2026 season, rather than extending through 2028, thus maintaining flexibility regarding his choices for 2027.
`Many are talking about it, but not me!`
When questioned about the situation in Jeddah on Thursday, Verstappen clearly aimed to avoid generating headlines.
Responding to inquiries about the rumors surrounding his future, Verstappen simply stated, `A lot of people are talking about it, except me.`
He added, `I just want to concentrate on my car and work with the team. That`s my sole focus in F1 right now. I feel very relaxed.`
Ultimately, if Red Bull can consistently provide Verstappen with the level of performance he demonstrated in Saudi Arabia, the speculation is likely to subside as he will be fully immersed in the battle for a fifth consecutive championship.
Nevertheless, the fact that both Mercedes and Aston Martin are clearly not dismissing the possibility of attempting to sign Verstappen for next season is telling, suggesting they still harbor some hope of achieving this.
It`s reasonable to assume that if Red Bull`s performance continues to be inconsistent, everyone in the paddock will be closely monitoring Verstappen`s position in the driver standings in the coming months.
Marcus Prine