Budapest.- The Dutch pilot Max Verstappenfour times world champion of Formula 1ended weeks of rumors about his future confirming this Thursday that he will continue in Red Bull next year.
Verstappen, on whom it was speculated that he could sign for the team Mercedes, declared that it was time to “stop all rumors” and did so in the framework of the Hungary Grand Prix of Formula 1.
“I have never said anything about it because I was focused on talking with the team about how we can improve our performance,” he explained from the Hungaroring circuit.
Likewise, Verstappen said he preferred to speak with his team about plans together for the future and fully focus on team’s performance for the rest of this season of the highest category of motor racing and in 2026.
“Also about future ideas for next year. That’s why I really had anything to add, but I think it’s time to basically stop all rumors,” he said.
“Anyway, for me it has always been clear that it was,” he confessed.
The root of rumors
The future of the Dutch became the subject of speculation when the British George Russell revealed that his team Mercedes was in conversations with Verstappen’s manager about his future plans.
A clause of the ‘Mad Max’ contract was then leaked with Red Bull that offered him the possibility of leaving the team if he was not in the ‘top 3’ of pilots at the end of July.
But that clause has already expired and will continue in the same garage in 2026, the first year of a new technical regulation.
“I think that was also the general sensation in the team, because we were always in conversations about what we could do with the car,” Verstappen said.
“When you are not interested in staying, you also stop talking about such things and I never did,” he added.
Verstappen has a contract until the end of 2028 and it is expected that it will be submitted to general scrutiny when it is clear which teams have adapted and progressed better under the new regulation.
