Max Verstappen has confirmed that he will remain with Red Bull for the next Formula 1 season, ending speculation about his future ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. The 27-year-old driver made it clear that he has no plans to switch teams despite recent rumors linking him to other options.
A contract clause allowed Verstappen to leave Red Bull early if he was outside the top three in the Drivers’ Championship at the summer break after this weekend’s Hungaroring race. However, with Verstappen currently positioned well within the top three and holding a 28-point lead over fourth-placed George Russell, this clause cannot be activated during the break, regardless of his performance at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Though his first half of the 2025 season has been challenging, Verstappen remains confident in his place at Red Bull. The Dutch driver has dominated the sport with four consecutive world championships and has decided to stay for at least one more year. Earlier speculation suggested he might join Mercedes for the 2026 season, but this no longer appears to be part of his considerations.
Reasons Behind Verstappen’s Decision to Stay with Red Bull
Former Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner has explained that Verstappen’s decision to remain at Red Bull is less about loyalty and more about strategic caution concerning the major regulatory changes scheduled for 2026. These upcoming rules will overhaul every car’s power unit, aerodynamics, and fuel usage across the entire F1 grid, introducing sustainable fuels and greater electrical power integration.
Steiner suggests Verstappen is banking on Red Bull’s ability to adapt successfully to these technical modifications. He commented on the driver’s risk assessment, stating,
“Switch now and sign a three-year contract with a racing team … and then he might be in the wrong car next year: this risk was too big for him. If necessary, he can get out of his contract at the end of next year if the car doesn’t run.”
—Guenther Steiner, Former F1 Team Principal
This means that Verstappen is securing stability for the immediate future but retaining flexibility. By the time the 2026 regulations come fully into effect, he can evaluate if Red Bull’s partnership with Ford produces a competitive power unit. Should the team fall short of title contention, Verstappen could exit his contract early, avoiding a prolonged commitment to an underperforming car.
Uncertainty Surrounding 2026 and Verstappen’s Potential Future Moves
Steiner also expressed skepticism about Verstappen’s long-term tenure at Red Bull, citing the unpredictability of the next season’s competition. The comprehensive changes to chassis, aerodynamics, and engines mean it is difficult to forecast which team will be dominant. He observed,
“You don’t know how strong the competition is. And whilst Red Bull is a good team. There is not a bad one (F1 team), among the other teams either. There is so much new next year: the chassis, the aerodynamics, the engine, everything. You just don’t know who is doing the best job. You just have to wait and see.”
—Guenther Steiner, Former F1 Team Principal
This highlights the unpredictable nature of Formula 1’s technological and competitive landscape next year, making decisions like Verstappen’s grounded in caution and strategic foresight.
Verstappen’s 2025 Performance and Championship Prospects
The first half of the 2025 F1 season has not gone entirely as Verstappen might have hoped, reducing his chances to secure a fifth consecutive Drivers’ Championship. His consistent presence in top positions has helped maintain a solid championship standing, but rivals like George Russell are closing the gap.
With races held across iconic circuits such as the Australian, Chinese, Japanese, Bahrain, Saudi Arabian, Miami, Emilia-Romagna, Monaco, Spanish, Canadian, Austrian, British, and Belgian Grands Prix, Verstappen’s results have varied, requiring resilience and adaptability as the competition intensifies.
Remaining with Red Bull eliminates immediate uncertainty in 2025 but also positions Verstappen to leverage the team’s engineering expertise during a critical transition to new technical regulations, which could strongly influence championship outcomes.
Looking Ahead to the Impact of Regulation Changes
The 2026 Formula 1 season will mark one of the sport’s most significant technical overhauls in years, with changes designed to enhance sustainability, increase electrical power usage, and reshape car aerodynamics. Red Bull’s collaboration with Ford on power units will be closely watched to determine competitiveness in this new era.
Verstappen’s decision to stay at Red Bull reflects a strategic choice to trust in his current team’s ability to adapt, rather than gamble on a transfer that might bring unpredictable results. His contract setup provides an escape hatch for 2027 if the new car does not meet expectations, maintaining flexibility while securing stability in the short term.
As the 2025 season progresses and the 2026 regulations begin to take shape, the motorsport world will closely observe how Verstappen and Red Bull navigate this period of transformation, which could redefine the balance of power within Formula 1.
