Max Verstappen: Time to stop all the rumors, I'll be racing for Red Bull in 2026
Verstappen, 27, is under contract at Red Bull until 2028, but his future was a regular source of scrutiny in recent months amid continued links to Mercedes.
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Verstappen previously dodged opportunities to firmly state that he would be racing for Red Bull next season, while Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff alluded to conversations talking place, albeit recognizing the chances of Verstappen making the switch for next year were very low.
For the first time on Thursday ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Verstappen firmly stated that he would be racing for Red Bull next year in a bid to stop the speculation.
'It's been quite interesting to follow all that, with all the nice stories that came out of it,' Verstappen told reporters at the Hungaroring.
'For me, I never really said anything about it because I was just focused on talking to the team about how we can improve our performance, future ideas for next year as well. That's why I had nothing really to add ever.
'But yeah, I think it's time to basically stop all the rumors. For me, it's always been quite clear I was staying anyway. I think that was also the general feeling in the team anyway.
'We were always in discussions about what we could do with the car, and I think when you're not interested in staying, you also stop talking about these kinds of things. And I never did.'
Verstappen is guaranteed to head into F1's summer break after the Hungarian Grand Prix in the top three of the drivers' championship, given his 28-point buffer to Mercedes' George Russell in fourth place.
This ensures that an escape clause in Verstappen's contract, which would have given him the ability to leave Red Bull had he not been in the top three of the championship at that point of the season, cannot be activated.
But Verstappen has always been firm in his investment in the Red Bull project, having been brought into F1 as a 17-year-old with its sister team, then known as Toro Rosso. He was promoted into a Red Bull seat one year later, winning on debut for the team before going on to seal four world titles.
Verstappen's future at Red Bull came into question last year amid turbulence behind the scenes at Red Bull, with then team principal Christian Horner facing an investigation after allegations of inappropriate behavior were made by a female employee. The grievance against Horner was dismissed, a decision upheld on appeal.
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Horner was suddenly dismissed as Red Bull F1 boss after this year's British Grand Prix, with the team struggling for form and Verstappen losing ground on the McLaren drivers in the title race, leaving his hopes of defending his crown already all but over.
Verstappen said last week that Horner's exit had no influence on his future, but he was upbeat about the first impressions of Laurent Mekies, Red Bull's new team principal.
Although Verstappen's contract does run through to 2028, his future is likely to be another topic of conversation next year, particularly if Red Bull is unable to give him a car capable of contending for a world championship under the revised technical regulations.
Asked if there would be more speculation about his future next summer, Verstappen replied: 'I don't know, if you ask me that question next year, then yes, we'll have that speculation.
'But for me, I never speak about it. Because I'm more interested in just working on the performance of things. That's why I also never really talk about what is in my contract.'
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