After weeks of whispers and speculation swirling around his future, Max Verstappen has finally put all the rumours to rest—he’s not going anywhere.
The reigning four-time F1 world champion has confirmed he’ll be sticking with Red Bull, ending talk of a possible switch to Mercedes.
The timing couldn’t be more critical, with the Hungarian Grand Prix just around the corner and the team still navigating major internal shifts.
Mercedes Talks Spark Transfer Buzz
The rumour mill kicked into overdrive earlier this month after George Russell revealed that Mercedes had been in touch with Verstappen’s team. That revelation lit a fire under the idea that Max might be eyeing a future with the Silver Arrows.
But in a press conference ahead of this weekend’s race, the 27-year-old Dutch driver made it clear: he was never really entertaining the idea of leaving.
Verstappen Shuts Down the Noise
Addressing the speculation head-on, Verstappen explained why he had stayed silent until now.
“I’ve never really said anything about it because I was just focused on the team—how we can improve performance and start planning for next year,” he said.
“I think it’s time to stop the rumours. It’s always been clear to me that I was staying.”
He added that the atmosphere within the Red Bull camp never suggested a split was on the horizon.
“When you’re not interested in staying, you stop talking about things like car development. But I never stopped.”
His Contract Has Clauses, But He’s Still On Track
Verstappen is under contract with Red Bull until the end of 2028, though there are exit clauses baked in.
One of those reportedly allows him to walk if he drops out of the top three in the championship standings by the summer.
Right now, he’s holding third place behind Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris—so no exit trigger there.
Life at Red Bull After Christian Horner
This public commitment from Verstappen comes just weeks after Red Bull sacked longtime team principal Christian Horner.
The 51-year-old had led the team to eight drivers’ championships over a two-decade reign but was ousted following a messy controversy.
Horner, who is married to Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, was accused of sexual harassment and coercive behaviour by a female employee, stemming from alleged inappropriate texts.
He was cleared after two separate legal reviews, but the situation cast a long shadow over Red Bull.
Even though the team initially stood by him during the storm in 2024, relations cooled noticeably before he was ultimately let go.
Now, Laurent Mekies has stepped in as the new team boss.
Verstappen Never Really Considered Leaving
For die-hard fans, Verstappen’s announcement isn’t a huge surprise.
Just a few weeks ago, he told Mail Sport he hoped to finish his career with Red Bull.
“That’s what I said in 2021 and that’s still the goal—I’m fully committed,” he reiterated.
As for the idea of teaming up with George Russell or driving for Mercedes? Verstappen said he never even gave it a thought.
“That scenario doesn’t exist in my head,” he said.
He’s Not Bothered by the Headlines
Despite the headlines and drama, Verstappen insists he’s not fazed.
“I can’t do anything about all the stories being written.
I don’t even pay attention to them,” he said.
“It never crossed my mind to take a break or drive somewhere else. That’s not how I think.”
And when it comes to track rivalries, he’s just as pragmatic.
“We get on fine. We’ve had our moments, but it’s all good.
We speak, we move on. I’m not someone who holds a grudge.”
Onward to Hungary
Now that he’s cleared the air, all eyes turn to the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend.
Verstappen, as always, is focused on racing—and making sure Red Bull keeps its edge, on and off the track.