Max Verstappen confirms he is staying at Red Bull
Asked at the Hungaroring if he can say for certain that he will be at Red Bull in 2026, Verstappen replied: 'Yes. I never really said anything about it because I was just focused on talking to the team about improving our performance, future ideas and next year and that is why I had nothing really to add.
'But I think it is time to stop all the rumours. For me, it was always quite clear that I was staying anyway and that was the general feeling in the team because we were always in discussion about what we could do with the car and when you're not interested in staying, you stop talking about these kind of things, and I never did.'
Until Thursday, Verstappen, third in the world championship and 81 points off the title pace, had been reluctant to confirm he will drive for Red Bull beyond this year despite having a contract for another three-and-a-half years.
His announcement here comes 23 days after Christian Horner discovered he had been ousted as Red Bull team principal and CEO.
Verstappen's father, Jos, inside the Red Bull hospitality suite on Thursday when his son ended speculation over his future for 2026, claimed at the beginning of last year Red Bull would 'explode' if Horner stayed.
Verstappen added on Sky Sports: 'Some people just like to stir the pot and some people just like to create drama, but for me (the future) it has always been quite clear.'
Mercedes have made little secret of their desire to sign the four-time world champion. As it stands, Russell – who despite a series of impressive performances this year – is without a deal for 2026.
Speaking prior to Verstappen, Russell, who it is understood has received a contract offer from Mercedes in the past week, said: 'Conversations have started. We are now heading into the summer break.
'I have spoken a lot with (Mercedes CEO and team principal) Toto (Wolff) this week, but we have not spoken once about the contract because we are both trying to solve the performance and getting the team in the right place. And that is genuine.
'I want to go into the summer break and enjoy the only two weeks off I have in the year. I don't want to be thinking about contracts.
'And there isn't really a major time pressure now from my side, nor from Mercedes' side, because of the Verstappen situation and I presume he is staying at Red Bull.
'Not that I was ever concerned about that but from the team's perspective I guess that has an impact.
'From my side, I was never concerned I was going to lose my seat. I want to go into this weekend and try and get the team back on track and perform better than we have shown at the past six races. Then I am going to go straight on holiday for two weeks and do a week's training and I want to enjoy that to be honest.'
It was then put to Russell, 27, that he will be driving for Mercedes next season, but it is now just a question of how his contract looks. He replied: 'Yes, I guess so.'
Despite the continued speculation surrounding suggestions Verstappen could trade Red Bull for Mercedes, those close to the Russell camp have indicated for a number of weeks the 27-year-old is extremely confident of striking a contract extension.
Russell has scored 157 points to rookie team-mate Kimi Antonelli's 63 after 13 of the 24 rounds. Mercedes are third in the constructors' standings, 296 points adrift of McLaren.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Five of the best car-themed hotels with rooftop race test tracks, F1-themed gyms and ‘petrol' cocktails
One of the hotels also overlooks Mercedes-Benz World's test track, and anyone can sign up for a lap of this circuit GET A VROOM Five of the best car-themed hotels with rooftop race test tracks, F1-themed gyms and 'petrol' cocktails Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WHETHER you are an F1 fan dreading the sport's annual August shutdown, or simply fancy the idea of dozing off surrounded by supercars, you can build a stay around motor racing. Here are five hotels designed with petrol heads in mind. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up NH TORINO LINGOTTO CONGRESS, Turin, Italy 7 The NH Torino Lingotto Congress hotel has a former rooftop test track - but is now a cool jogging track IN the 1920s, the opening of a Fiat factory put Turin's park-filled Lingotto neighbourhood firmly on the map. Part of it has now been transformed into the NH Torino Lingotto Congress hotel. Photos of vintage cars line the walls, and other reminders of its history include the former rooftop test track, which appeared in the Italian Job, and has since been transformed into one of the world's coolest jogging tracks. GO: Rooms cost from £100 per night. See V8 HOTEL, Stuttgart, Germany 7 V8 hotel's beds are made from the chassis of a vintage Mercedes or BMW Credit: V8 HOTEL - MOTORWORLD Region Stu THE V8 hotel is in Motorworld, a sprawling complex which is part museum, part car dealership. Motoring fans flock here to marvel (and occasionally buy) everything from Lamborghinis and Ferraris to vintage motorbikes and car parts. The hotel's lobby is filled with supercars while in the rooms, beds are made from the chassis of a vintage Mercedes or BMW. We recommend the Le Mans room, which has coffee tables made from oil drums and an enormous wall mural depicting a pit crew at work. GO: Rooms cost from £138 per night. See BROOKLANDS HOTEL, Weybridge, Surrey 7 Brooklands Hotel overlooks Mercedes-Benz World's test track Credit: Alamy SITTING within the footprint of the former Brooklands circuit, which became the world's first motor racing circuit when it was built in 1907, is this slick hotel. The track, famous for its banked curves, was the setting for various land speed records, although only a few moss-covered sections remain. The hotel also overlooks Mercedes-Benz World's test track, and anyone can sign up for a lap of this circuit. Lewis Hamilton has sped around it more than once. GO: Rooms cosy from £113 per night. See ESCAPADE SILVERSTONE, Oxfordshire, UK 7 Escapade Silverstone's suites and residences are sleek and stylish Credit: Astrid Templier TRACKSIDE accommodation does not get better than this. Escapade Silverstone comprises 180 suites and 60 residences, many of which overlook the famous motor racing circuit. Both the suites and residences are sleek and stylish; subtle nods to the location include monochrome cushions inspired by the chequered flag waved at the finishing line, and stacks of coffee table books chosen with speed demons in mind. Our favourite areas include the pool, with its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the track just 11metres away. Wannabe F1 drivers will love the gym, which has the same torture devices – sorry, neck-training machines – used by drivers to help them cope with G Forces experienced during cornering and acceleration. GO: Rooms cost from £92 per night. See THE DAYTONA, Florida, US 7 The Daytona in Florida is next to the legendary Speedway circuit Credit: Supplied NEXT to the legendary Daytona Speedway circuit, there are motorbikes in the bar and racing cars in the lobby. Memorabilia on display includes trophies, bronze casts of Nascar drivers' gloves and art-like collections of speedometers (sounds weird but it works). For a nightcap, head to the Blue Flame bar, where engine pistons have been transformed into sculptures. We recommend the Racing Fuel cocktail, made with blackberry moonshine, lime juice, blueberry syrup and lemon-lime soda. GO: Rooms cost from £103 per night. See Disney's Art of Animation Resort, Florida 7 Disney's Art of Animation Resort's suites which pay tribute to the animated movie Cars. Credit: Supplied HEADING to Florida with a little Lando in tow? Consider Disney's Art of Animation Resort – more specifically the suites which pay tribute to the animated movie Cars. Highlights include the traffic cone-shaped bedside lights and the carwash-inspired bathrooms, along with the coffee tables topped with colourful maps highlighting famous driving routes. There are endless opportunities for some seriously fun selfies, too – guests can head outside to pose next to the movie's Sally Carrera and Lightning McQueen cars, or next to the Butte Gas station. GO: Rooms cost from £231 per night, based on four sharing. See Hotel Tylösand, Halmstad, Sweden 7 This hotel is stuffed with some of the world's most expensive speed machines Credit: Supplied THIS Swedish car-themed hotel is co-owned by Roxette singer Per Gessle, and its public areas are stuffed with some of the world's most expensive speed machines (including a large number of Ferraris owned by Gessle himself). You can learn more about the motors on hotel tours led by Dick Jönsson Wigroth, founder of Sweden's most successful racing team, although you don't have to be a piston head to enjoy a stay here, largely because it's located just metres from Tylösand Beach, famous for its golden sands and glass-clear water. GO: Rooms cost from around £200 per night. See
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Celtic manager on why Russell Martin will cope with Rangers pressure
Supporters of the Glasgow giants were underwhelmed when former MK Dons, Swansea City and Southampton manager Martin was named as Philippe Clement's successor back at the start of June. But the ex-Scotland internationalist has recruited extensively this summer and his new-look side defeated Panathinaikos of Greece 3-1 on aggregate in the Champions League second qualifying round last month. Read more: Rodgers, who is bidding to land a third consecutive Scottish title in the 2025/26 campaign, admitted that he was looking forward to pitting his wits against the ex-Norwich City defender in the months ahead. The Northern Irishman, who is in his second spell in charge of his boyhood heroes, feels the loan that Martin had as a player in Govan back in 2018 will prove invaluable to his counterpart in his new role. 'I think the challenge always excites you when you come into a new season,' he said. 'I don't know Russell that well, but I've spoken to him. As a young manager and coach through his career, he's done very well. I followed him at Swansea, as a former club, and he did well there. (Image: Craig Williamson - SNS Group) 'Then moving on, getting Southampton promoted is good. To take a team out of the Championship is hard. It's a tough, tough league. But he was able to do that. Obviously, then it was a difficult season for them in the Premier League, but that is a tough, tough league. 'But Russell, having been up here before, knows the pressures. One of the big things about managing Celtic and Rangers is managing pressure. The football idea and the coaching are obviously very important. 'It is important to have an identity and a style, but managing and playing under pressure is what's key up here. Russell, having been here before as a player at Rangers, will know what's in front of him.' Read more: Rodgers added, 'But I think the managers coming into the league make it exciting. Russell at Rangers, Derek at Hearts and Stuart at Killie as well. 'John [McGlynn] has done a brilliant job at Falkirk over a couple of seasons, getting them promoted twice. I know him well, so I know that they'll be giving everything to stay in the league. 'David Martindale is a good man who was in the league for a few years when I was here before. Livingston have come straight back up after getting relegated. Again, they are experienced managers. So I think the league as a whole will be strong and competitive.'
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Lottie Woad loses more ground in Women's Open as Miyu Yamashita sets pace
Woad, tournament favourite in just her second event as a professional after winning the Scottish Open last week, was on the charge after her sixth birdie of the day at the 14th before suffering a big setback at the par-four 16th. Japan's Yamashita followed her first-round 68 with a bogey-free 65 to open up a three-shot lead over compatriot and joint overnight leader Rio Takeda, who carded a 69 on another blustery day at Royal Porthcawl. Squeaky clean 🧽 Miyu Yamashita is the first player to card a bogey-free round here at the 2025 @AIGWomensOpen. — LPGA (@LPGA) August 1, 2025 Switzerland's Chiara Tamburlini, Thailand's Pajaree Anannarukarn, American Lindy Duncan and Germany's Laura Fuenfstueck are all tied for third, four shots further back on four under. Women's Open winner in 2021, Sweden's Madelene Sagstrom, plus South Korean pair Sei Young Kim and A Lim Kim are tied in seventh, a shot further back on three under. Woad, Wales' Darcey Harry and American world number one Nelly Korda are among another group of eight, are tied in 11th on two under. Surrey's Woad, who also won the Irish Open and finished tied for third at The Evian Championship in her final weeks as an amateur, began the day five shots behind the leaders after a first-round level-par 72. Lottie Woad recovered from her triple bogey to par the final two holes (Nigel French/PA) The 21-year-old parred the first five holes on Friday before birdies at the sixth and eighth took her to the turn on two under. Four more birdies and a bogey in the next five holes lifted her up to fifth on the leaderboard on five under, but after another par at the 15th, a penalty drop at the 16th, where she two-putted after chipping on to the green, saw her drop three shots. Woad told Sky Sports: 'It's probably playing the toughest hole of the day. I hit a good drive but pushed the three-wood a bit and it went in the one thick bit over there. 'I got a bit unlucky with that but then took my medicine afterwards and ended up making a seven. Lottie Woad is on the charge. 🔥 6 birdies. 🚀 47 spots climbed. 📈 — AIG Women's Open (@AIGWomensOpen) August 1, 2025 'I'm happy with how I recovered after it. I was a bit angry after that but I just had to move on quickly.' Woad parred the final two holes – she missed a birdie putt on the 18th – to finish the second round alongside 22-year-old Harry as the highest-placed home nations players. Harry followed up her opening-round 70 with a 72, which could have been better but for double bogeys at the 10th and 15th. Mimi Rhodes, the leading Brit heading into the day after an opening-round 69, carded a 74 to sit in a big group tied in 19th place on one under, while Charley Hull is a shot further back, tied in 29th place, after she birdied the last for a 71. New Zealand's defending champion Lydia Ko slipped out of contention after posting a second successive 73 to sit two over, while American Lillia Vu, the 2023 Open champion, missed the cut after rounds of 74 and 77 left her seven over.
