Max Verstappen has finally put to rest ongoing rumors about his future with Red Bull by confirming he will remain with the team through at least the 2028 season. After a difficult start to 2025 marked by underwhelming performance and few race wins, the reigning world champion faced widespread speculation about a possible exit in 2026. However, Verstappen’s recent announcement confirms his commitment to the team despite these challenges.
Verstappen’s decision comes after Red Bull took significant steps to address internal leadership issues, including the departure of team principal Christian Horner. With Horner no longer involved, Verstappen appears more confident in the team’s direction, placing his trust in their efforts to regain competitiveness. His contract now secured until 2028, the 27-year-old Dutch driver is focused on helping Red Bull improve results moving forward.
Verstappen Explains Silence During Period of Uncertainty
Throughout months of speculation, Verstappen remained notably quiet on his contract status, choosing instead to concentrate on discussing performance improvements with the team. He cited this focus as the main reason for his silence, preferring to address challenges on track rather than engage publicly in rumors.
“I’ve never really said anything about it because I was just focused on talking to the team about how we can improve our performance, future ideas for next year as well, and that’s why I had nothing really to add.”
—Max Verstappen, as reported by Autosport
The four-time world champion emphasized that priority remained on refining their car and tactics, rather than the contract chatter dominating the media. This approach demonstrated his commitment to the team’s future despite the uncertain environment.
Stopping Speculation: Verstappen Reaffirms Loyalty to Red Bull
Verstappen has urged fans and journalists to end all rumors about his departure, affirming that his intention was clear from the start. He reinforced Red Bull’s shared desire to continue their partnership, acknowledging ongoing collaboration on vehicle improvements.
“But I think it’s time to basically stop all the rumours, and for me it’s always been quite clear that I was staying anyway. I think that was also the general feeling in the team anyway, because we were always in discussions about what we could do with the car.”
—Max Verstappen
The mutual understanding between Verstappen and Red Bull leadership highlights a united front focused on overcoming current performance issues and striving towards new successes.
Verstappen Maintains Optimism for 2025 Despite Setbacks
With just two wins in 13 races so far this season, Verstappen trails championship leader Oscar Piastri by 69 points. Earlier in the season, he downplayed his chances of defending the title amid Red Bull’s difficulties. However, the Dutch driver has revised his outlook, now encouraging a more positive approach to the remainder of 2025.
He acknowledges the opportunity to continue learning about the RB21’s behavior and characteristics this season and stresses the importance of leveraging these insights for future development under the new 2026 regulations.
“I think there’s still a lot of opportunity to learn more about the car and the behaviour of the car. Of course, I know that the cars will be different next year, but there are still things that you can take out of this year on the engineering side of things and also implement for next year. So, you cannot just say: ‘Okay, we’re not winning the championship this year, so we just write it off completely.’”
—Max Verstappen
This perspective reveals Verstappen’s determination to extract valuable lessons from the challenges faced during 2025, positioning the team better for future competition.
Red Bull’s 2025 Season Presents Challenges Ahead
The current season has tested Red Bull’s resilience as the team tries to regain the dominance it once enjoyed. Verstappen remains dedicated to pushing himself and the team forward through the remaining races, focusing on immediate challenges like the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix before the summer break. Despite the pressure and persistent rumors, Verstappen’s confirmation to remain steadfast with Red Bull underscores his commitment to future achievements.
Moving forward, Verstappen’s presence and leadership will be crucial for Red Bull as they adapt to regulatory changes and strive to reclaim their status at the top of Formula 1. His decision to honor his contract through 2028 sends a strong message about stability within the team during this transitional period.
