Max Verstappen has officially confirmed that he will remain with Red Bull Racing for the 2026 Formula 1 season, putting an end to months of speculation linking him to a potential move to Mercedes. The announcement comes just before the Hungarian Grand Prix and the sport’s scheduled summer break.
Verstappen, the reigning four-time World Champion, had been the subject of intense transfer rumors throughout the season. Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff had previously acknowledged ongoing discussions with Verstappen about joining the Silver Arrows. However, ahead of the Hungarian GP, Verstappen made his intentions clear—he’s staying at Milton Keynes.
Verstappen Dismisses Rumors, Confirms Plans with Red Bull
Addressing the media, Verstappen said: “The thing is, people are waffling so much throughout the whole season while the only one that actually can or should speak is not speaking. That’s me, and I do that on purpose because it makes no sense to start throwing things around and actually that should be the same for everyone.”
“Some people just like to stir the pot, some people just like to create drama but for me it’s always been quite clear and also for next year. I’m discussing with the team already the plans, the things that we want to change next year so that means I’m also staying with the team for next year and if my boat is next to Toto’s then the boat is next to Toto’s.”
“You can have a personal relationship with someone even if you don’t have a working relationship with someone.”
He added: “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.”
Confident in Red Bull’s Future and New Leadership
Verstappen’s decision ensures he will be a part of Red Bull’s transition into Formula 1’s new technical regulation era starting in 2026, which includes significant updates to both chassis and power units.
Red Bull also recently underwent a leadership change, with Laurent Mekies stepping in as Team Principal, replacing Christian Horner ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix. Despite Mekies’ short time in the role, Verstappen expressed strong support for the new leadership.
“We discuss about a lot of things to be honest,” Verstappen said. “He’s very friendly, he’s very open, very motivated, very driven. That’s of course what you want to see from a boss and I like it. It’s a nice atmosphere that he is creating and I’m very excited for the future, what we can do together.”
“Of course, for this year the amount of influence with the car is difficult. You jump in the middle of the season but of course for the future, you have a lot more say and influence on that. He’s asking, for me at least, the right questions and ideas. I like it.”
With this confirmation, Red Bull can now focus fully on its performance and development heading into the future, knowing their star driver remains committed for the long term.
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