Max Verstappen has definitively stated his commitment to Red Bull, dispelling rumors about his potential departure. Speaking at the Hungaroring circuit,the Dutch driver expressed his clarity on the matter,stating,”thes rumors,it has always been very clear to me that I woudl stay.”
In recent weeks, Verstappen had been notably reserved when questioned about his future with Red Bull, especially amidst the team’s current struggles against the dominant McLaren. He explained his silence by saying, “I have never really said anything about this because I focus onyl on discussions with the team concerning the improvement of our performances, ideas for the future and next year.”
The 27-year-old driver,who is officially contracted with Red Bull untill 2028,currently holds third place in the driver standings. He trails championship leader Oscar Piastri by 81 points and his McLaren teammate Lando Norris by 61 points. While a championship challenge this season appears unlikely, Verstappen is assured of maintaining his third-place position, as George Russell is 28 points behind him, with a maximum of 25 points available this weekend.
This third-place finish,though perhaps seemingly minor for a multi-champion like “Mad Max,” could have been crucial for his future at Red Bull. reports from specialized media suggest that Verstappen’s contract includes a clause allowing him to leave before the end of 2028 if he were not to be in the top three of the driver championship by the summer break. This clause, it appears, is no longer applicable.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko had previously confirmed to German media that Verstappen would remain with the team in 2026. This confirmation of Verstappen’s continued presence at Red Bull for the upcoming year comes three weeks after the dismissal of Christian Horner, who had led the team as its inception as a manufacturer in Formula 1 in 2005.Horner’s departure, announced without an official reason, was widely understood to be linked to strained relations with the Verstappen camp, particularly Max’s father, Jos Verstappen. christian Horner had faced accusations of inappropriate behavior in February 2024, and while an internal examination cleared him weeks later, the incident highlighted underlying tensions with the Verstappen family.
Max Verstappen has spent his entire Formula 1 career with Red Bull and its sister team Toro Rosso (now Racing Bulls). Since joining Red Bull in 2016, he has achieved 65 Grand Prix victories and secured four world Driver’s Championships in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
