Max Verstappen once again declined to comment on the ongoing speculation linking him to a potential move from Red Bull to Mercedes for the 2026 season.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has openly stated his interest in recruiting the four-time world champion for the next year.
According to sources, Verstappen`s contract includes a clause allowing him to terminate his Red Bull agreement, which runs until 2028, if he is outside the top three in the championship standings by the August summer break.
Verstappen is currently ranked third, nine points ahead of Mercedes driver George Russell. Reports indicate Verstappen might replace Russell, whose contract status beyond this season remains uncertain.
Last week, following a series of challenging results, Verstappen emphasized that his sole focus was on improving Red Bull`s car for 2025.
When questioned about the persistent rumours this week, he reiterated: “I have nothing further to add. My position hasn`t changed.”
“Last week wasn`t a great outcome. It wasn`t a strong weekend overall, and we also had some bad luck. While I wouldn`t claim we could challenge McLaren, we certainly could have achieved a decent result. Everything I said last week still stands. Nothing is different from my perspective.”
Wolff previously stated that he plans to finalize Mercedes` driver lineup for 2026 during the summer break, which follows the Hungarian Grand Prix in early August. This timeframe also coincides with when Verstappen`s potential contract clause, based on his championship position, could become active.
Consequently, no definitive decisions regarding either Mercedes` lineup or Verstappen`s future can be made until after the Hungarian Grand Prix concludes.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner reportedly remains unconcerned about the situation. Many within the team believe the Mercedes speculation is being driven more by Verstappen`s father, Jos, than by the driver himself.
The choice of where to race in 2026 is particularly complex compared to other years due to significant upcoming regulation changes in Formula 1 concerning both aerodynamics and engines.
Simply put, this creates a reset of the competitive landscape, making it impossible to accurately predict which teams will excel and which will struggle.
Mercedes is reportedly increasingly confident about their 2026 engine performance. However, this isn`t a guarantee of overall success, as McLaren, who use Mercedes engines, are currently outperforming the factory Mercedes team in the championship.
Red Bull will conclude its successful partnership with Honda after this year. From next season, they will power their cars with their own engines developed in collaboration with Ford. The general view within the Milton Keynes team is that this new engine project might not be the class leader immediately. Nevertheless, comparing its potential performance against competitors for 2026 remains impossible to predict accurately. Red Bull also consistently prides itself on the strength of its car design department.
When asked if moving to a different team with so many uncertainties in 2026 would be a risk, Verstappen replied: “That`s correct. That`s why I`m under contract with Red Bull.”
One developing theory suggests Verstappen might stay with Red Bull for the next season (perhaps with Russell signing a one-year extension at Mercedes) to properly evaluate the competitive landscape before making a decision for 2026.
This scenario would also allow him to observe if teams like Ferrari or potentially Aston Martin (who will partner with Honda for engines) emerge as leading contenders.
Some reports have even speculated that Verstappen might take a sabbatical to see how the new regulations shake out, but this was the only suggestion Verstappen definitively dismissed.
Asked if sitting out F1 was a possibility, he firmly responded: “No, no, certainly not.”
Verstappen has demonstrated growing interest in participating in GT racing events, including a widely reported test drive at the Nurburgring under the pseudonym Franz Herman.
He indicated his intention to continue exploring ways to increase his involvement in such events.
“Of course, I`ll try to combine [F1] in the future with any other form of racing that`s feasible. But I can`t prepare for it yet. Because I do want to explore options outside of Formula 1, which I`m already doing with testing, and eventually through racing.”
