Red Bull's Christian Horner says Max Verstappen intends to stay despite Mercedes links
SILVERSTONE, England (AP) — Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has said Max Verstappen intends to stay with the team for next year despite speculation about a move to Mercedes which would shake up Formula 1.
Verstappen has repeatedly declined to say he's committed to Red Bull for 2026 following a suggestion last week from Mercedes' George that his team spoke with Verstappen. Russell doesn't have a contract for 2026.
Advertisement
The four-time world champion has a contract through 2028 at Red Bull but there have been indications that a performance-related clause could allow him to exit earlier. The exact details are not public.
'The contracts between the drivers and the teams are always going to remain confidential. With any driver's contract there is an element of a performance mechanism, and of course that exists within Max's contract,' Horner said on Friday at the British Grand Prix.
'His intention is that he will be there and driving for us in 2026. It's inevitable that he's of huge interest to any other other team in the pit lane.'
Horner suggested Russell 'probably triggered all this speculation' to strengthen his hand in talks with Mercedes. 'I think the most important thing is the clarity that exists between Max and the team and that's very clear,' Horner added.
Advertisement
Horner also said of Verstappen: 'He's made it quite clear that he would like to finish his career in a Red Bull car from start to finish. I think that's quite special and unique for him.'
Russell said on Thursday he believed there was an 'exceptionally low' chance he'd have to leave Mercedes for 2026.
Horner added that Yuki Tsunoda will get the rest of 2025 to show he deserves to keep a seat at Red Bull, but signaled he'd consider a range of options inside and outside the wider Red Bull organization, including Liam Lawson and his rookie Racing Bulls teammate Isack Hadjar.
Tsunoda was promoted to Verstappen's teammate in March after Lawson struggled in the first two races.
Advertisement
'Yuki has got until the end of the season to demonstrate that he's the guy to remain in the car,' Horner said. 'We have Isack also doing a good job and Liam finding his form as well. So within the Red Bull pool we have talent. Of course, you're also open to what is outside of that. We want to field the best lineup that we can for next year. We've gone outside of that pool in recent years. If we feel the necessity to do so, we wouldn't be afraid to do so again."
___
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Metcalf back as Norfolk face Cambs in T20 clashes
Ethan Metcalf, who returns to the Norfolk side for the two T20s against Cambridgeshire (Image: Adam Pryke) It's all to play for when Norfolk host East Anglian rivals Cambridgeshire in two T20 games at Sprowston CC on Sunday. Norfolk will be looking to win the group while Cambridgeshire are trying to qualify for the Super 12s. Norfolk head Group 2 with 10 points out of a possible 12 following two superb victories against Suffolk at Woolpit last week. Suffolk are second on eight points and Cambridgeshire are joint third with Hertfordshire on six. Advertisement The group winners will host two other teams in the Super 12s on August 3. Norfolk produced two top class performances last Sunday to blow away a strong Suffolk side. In the first game they set a record Norfolk T20 total of 219-6, in which Freddie Fairey became the first Norfolk batter to record a century in the competition. They backed that up with a brilliant display in the field as they restricted the home side to 148-7. In the second match, there was another fine display in the field to support some tight bowling as Suffolk were restricted to 137-4, which was below par on the excellent Woolpit wicket. Norfolk cantered to victory for the loss of just two wickets in the 15th over. Nottinghamshire's Sammy King, who produced two brilliant unbeaten innings of 52 and 60, is unavailable as he is in the Outlaws first team squad for the T20 Blast. This paves the way for the return of Ethan Metcalf, who has completed his medical exams. Also back in the side is wicketkeeper batsman Charlie Hood, who was unavailable for the Suffolk matches. Alfie Cooper is unavailable. Advertisement After an indifferent start to their T20 campaign which saw them win just one of their first four games, Cambridgeshire had two wins at Exning over Lincolnshire last Sunday and now have a realistic chance of qualifying if the results go their way. They are always formidable opponents and have strength in depth. Nikhil Gorantla, who has been playing for Surrey II over the last two weeks, is in the squad along with former Leicestershire and Lancashire all-rounder Wayne White. They are captained by Sawston and Babraham's Callum Guest. Norfolk's head coach Tom New said: "It was a tremendous performance by the boys at Woolpit, and I thought we looked a proper side. We were excellent in all three disciplines and are hoping for the same again on Sunday. "It is good to welcome back Ethan and Charlie, who are both valuable members of the squad. There is nobody better than Charlie with the gloves outside first-class cricket.' Advertisement The first game starts at 11am with the second at 2.30pm. Admission to the ground is free. Norfolk: Sam Arthurton (cpt), Freddie Fairey, Ben Wilcox, Ethan Metcalf, Charlie Hood, Arthur Wilcox, Hami Qadri, Joe Everett, Callum Metcalf, Brett Stolworthy, Andy Hanby. Cambridgeshire: Ben Claydon, Yousuf Choudhary, Henry Wilson, Nikhil Gorantla, Wayne White, Will Routledge, Lee Thomason (wkt), Callum Guest (cpt), Ben Saunders, James Sykes, George Darlow, Matthew Rees.
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Brazil starlet Estevao 'ready' for Chelsea move: Palmeiras coach
Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira said he believes teenage prodigy Estevao Willian is ready to take the leap to the Premier League after he marked his farewell appearance for the Brazilian club with a goal against future employers Chelsea on Friday. Estevao, 18, scored a fantastic equaliser in the Club World Cup quarter-final between the teams in Philadelphia but could not prevent Chelsea claiming a 2-1 win thanks to a late own-goal. Advertisement He will now complete a move to the London club, finally heading to England just over a year after Chelsea agreed to pay Palmeiras a reported 57 million euros ($67.1m), including bonuses, for him. "I don't have sons, I have two daughters, but he is my son," Ferreira said after the match at Lincoln Financial Field, adding that he had exchanged words with Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca about Estevao. "I spoke before with Maresca. He is a nice coach, and I told him that they bought an amazing player but more than this they bought an amazing person. "He is an amazing player and I said that they need to take care of him and embrace him because for sure in the beginning he will make mistakes, but you saw today that he is a player with a lot of skills who can win a game on his own. He has that capacity." Advertisement Estevao was named the best player in the Brazilian league last year and has shown plenty of glimpses of his potential at the Club World Cup. Now he must try to win a place in the Chelsea team in the face of stiff competition, with Maresca having a wide array of attacking options at his disposal. "For sure he will need the support of the coach and directors because he is young and it is the first time he is leaving his country," Ferreira added. "I told him it won't be the same because the sun comes out two or three times a year, the night comes early, but I believe Chelsea have all the conditions to support him. Advertisement "He is a fantastic player and I think he is ready." - 'Huge talent' - Ferreira, the Portuguese coach who has been in charge of Palmeiras since 2020, earlier hugged Estevao in front of reporters, with the player smiling despite the disappointment of his team's exit. Maresca said: "I spoke to Estevao for the first time after the game and told him it was the perfect night because we won and he scored. "You can see he is a huge talent, a fantastic player, and the only thing for me is that when you come from South America or in general another part of the world to Europe, you need to adapt. Advertisement "So we need to help him to adapt and first of all to be happy, continue to enjoy football, but we don't have any doubt because he is such a good player that he is going to be a very important player for Chelsea." Another future Chelsea player, Jamie Gittens, was in attendance in Philadelphia with the England Under-21 international winger joining from Borussia Dortmund. "Jamie was here tonight and was on the pitch and will be with us for probably another day or two," Maresca said. "He will then go on holiday and come back when we start the new season." as/dh
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Brazil starlet Estevao 'ready' for Chelsea move: Palmeiras coach
Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira said he believes teenage prodigy Estevao Willian is ready to take the leap to the Premier League after he marked his farewell appearance for the Brazilian club with a goal against future employers Chelsea on Friday. Estevao, 18, scored a fantastic equaliser in the Club World Cup quarter-final between the teams in Philadelphia but could not prevent Chelsea claiming a 2-1 win thanks to a late own-goal. Advertisement He will now complete a move to the London club, finally heading to England just over a year after Chelsea agreed to pay Palmeiras a reported 57 million euros ($67.1m), including bonuses, for him. "I don't have sons, I have two daughters, but he is my son," Ferreira said after the match at Lincoln Financial Field, adding that he had exchanged words with Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca about Estevao. "I spoke before with Maresca. He is a nice coach, and I told him that they bought an amazing player but more than this they bought an amazing person. "He is an amazing player and I said that they need to take care of him and embrace him because for sure in the beginning he will make mistakes, but you saw today that he is a player with a lot of skills who can win a game on his own. He has that capacity." Advertisement Estevao was named the best player in the Brazilian league last year and has shown plenty of glimpses of his potential at the Club World Cup. Now he must try to win a place in the Chelsea team in the face of stiff competition, with Maresca having a wide array of attacking options at his disposal. "For sure he will need the support of the coach and directors because he is young and it is the first time he is leaving his country," Ferreira added. "I told him it won't be the same because the sun comes out two or three times a year, the night comes early, but I believe Chelsea have all the conditions to support him. Advertisement "He is a fantastic player and I think he is ready." - 'Huge talent' - Ferreira, the Portuguese coach who has been in charge of Palmeiras since 2020, earlier hugged Estevao in front of reporters, with the player smiling despite the disappointment of his team's exit. Maresca said: "I spoke to Estevao for the first time after the game and told him it was the perfect night because we won and he scored. "You can see he is a huge talent, a fantastic player, and the only thing for me is that when you come from South America or in general another part of the world to Europe, you need to adapt. Advertisement "So we need to help him to adapt and first of all to be happy, continue to enjoy football, but we don't have any doubt because he is such a good player that he is going to be a very important player for Chelsea." Another future Chelsea player, Jamie Gittens, was in attendance in Philadelphia with the England Under-21 international winger joining from Borussia Dortmund. "Jamie was here tonight and was on the pitch and will be with us for probably another day or two," Maresca said. "He will then go on holiday and come back when we start the new season." as/dh
