Red Bull need to perform to keep Max Verstappen around and the four-time F1 champion has indicated that the upcoming races could help him decide what his next steps will be
Max Verstappen has said the coming weeks and months will be “very important” in deciding his Formula 1 future. That rather ominous statement comes amid persistent speculation that the Dutchman could choose to walk away from Red Bull at the end of this season.
It is well known that clauses in Verstappen’s contract would allow him to leave if Red Bull to not meet certain performance targets. And those are likely to be related to the team’s position in the constructors’ championship, in which they currently sit third.
But Red Bull are only 11 points ahead of Ferrari. And if the Scuderia give Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton a car in which they can outscore Verstappen’s team more frequently, then it could put them in greater danger of losing their star man.
Verstappen has made noises about preferring to stick with Red Bull but has avoided any overly-committal statement, clearly wishing to keep his options open in case a more attractive option arises for 2026. “I want to see how the rest of the season, or at least part of it, goes,” he said.
“Big, decent steps can be taken by the team. The upcoming races are very important, also for my future. I’m not even talking about next year, but in general. I think everyone in the team realises that.
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“You know what the problem is: If you could really choose and look purely at performance, you could change teams almost every season. But of course you can’t. That’s the intention [to stay], unless things go really strangely. But that [a departure] is not my intention at the moment.”
The 2026 season will likely see a seismic shift of the sport’s pecking order. Not only are there new aerodynamic regulations but new engine rules will also come into force.
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Red Bull are building their own power units for the first time, in collaboration with Ford, for those new regulations. But even though they have hired top engineers from elsewhere, the fact they are new at it as an organisation is likely to put them at a disadvantage compared to some others.
Mercedes adapted best to the last engine rules change and are tipped to do well again. And Honda, who have plenty of F1 engine know-how having powered Red Bull’s title-winning cars for many years, will continue in the sport with Aston Martin from next year.
Verstappen has been heavily linked with both teams, but he admits even he has no idea how the chips will fall right now. He said: “It’s a bit difficult to estimate. Next year everything will be new in the sport again. And everyone can say that they know who has the best credentials, but nobody knows for sure.
“The only team that has it best at the moment is McLaren. The cars and engines will change next year, but if you keep such an advantage with the tyres, then that is significant and then it will be the same next year. I always think and have thought about my future, even in the good years. On the other hand, I think I am quite calm about it at the moment.”