With the new regulations for the 2026 F1 season come new and exciting storylines that fans will keep a close eye on, especially those related to Max Verstappen. The Dutchman failed to defend his World Championship last season, making one of the many narratives about his journey back to the top of the sport.
But what does the future hold for the four-time World Champion?
Max Verstappen Continues To Be Linked With Red Bull Exit, Move to Mercedes
Rumors went into a flat spin in the first half of the 2025 campaign, with word circling the paddock that Verstappen could move to Mercedes due to Red Bull’s lack of performance. A clause in his contract stipulated that he could abandon the Austrian outfit if he were outside the top three drivers in the championship at the summer break.
However, the Dutchman found himself just ahead of Mercedes star George Russell, which meant he’d continue at Red Bull for 2026.
This, on the other hand, doesn’t rule out a move away from the Milton Keynes-based team. Team principal Laurent Mekies acknowledged that Verstappen isn’t guaranteed to stay at Red Bull, especially if they struggle to put a competitive car on track.
“We think Max wants a fast car,” Mekies said at the Autosport Business Exchange. “So, we think the best way to make sure he wants to stay with us for as long as we can imagine, is to give him a fast car. A combination of a fast chassis and a fast power unit.”
🚨 | Rival teams will be monitoring Max Verstappen’s contractual situation at Red Bull throughout 2026.
Here’s what you should know:https://t.co/3uOaT1ioCK
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The Dutchman, though, has been in F1 long enough to understand the value of patience, knowing that strong results might not come from Day 1.
“He’s aware that we take risks, as do Ford,” Mekies added. “He’s aware of the scale of the challenge. He lives and breathes motorsport — more than a large part of us… As we say, we may not get [results] at the right level for race one. But because he understands so well motorsport, he will see the trajectories. And hopefully we can show him a strong enough trajectory that he feels this group of people is going to produce the fastest car possible.”
Verstappen’s cordial relationship with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff adds to a growing sentiment that he could end up at the German outfit somewhere in the future.
But as long as Red Bull keeps supplying the Dutchman with a strong car, there’s little reason to believe that the four-time World Champion would be anywhere else than Milton Keynes.
