PHILIP FONG/Getty Images

Max Verstappen Reportedly Makes Decision On 2026 F1 Season

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Jul 29, 2025 4:34 PM ET

Speculation of Max Verstappen leaving Red Bull will go back on hold for another year.

Chatter has persisted about the four-time Formula One champion leaving Red Bull amid interest from Mercedes. Although Verstappen is under contract through 2028, ESPN's Nate Saunders reported Monday that he could have left after the 2025 season if he placed fourth or lower in the season standings after this Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix. The 27-year-old is third ahead of Mercedes driver George Russell.

Verstappen can't fall to fourth this weekend, so he's seemingly staying put in 2026. Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko confirmed as much in an interview with Sport.De, telling the German outlet that Verstappen will return to the team next season.

Talk of Verstappen leaving has persisted since last summer, as Mercedes principal and CEO Toto Wolff has made no secret of his interest in poaching F1's top star.

"I don't think that’s how Formula One works – where then suddenly you can say, 'Well, bye guys.' It's not how it works," Verstappen told reporters last July when asked about his 2025 plans. "I have a long contract with the team. I'm very happy where I'm at."

Last month, Russell indicated that Mercedes has stalled his extension talks because of the team's pursuit of Verstappen. The 27-year-old's contract ends after this season, and Russell is now unable to surpass Verstappen for third place and give Mercedes a chance to replace him.

Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told Sky Sports weeks ago that he thinks Verstappen is tired of all the rumors of an exit. However, the team has since replaced him with Laurent Mekies.

"It's a lot of noise," Horner said. "I think Max gets quite annoyed by it. We're very clear with the contract that we have with Max until 2028. Anything is entirely speculative that is being said. We tend not to pay too much attention to it."

Meanwhile, Verstappen's chances of securing a fifth straight F1 title are dwindling. He trails McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris by 81 and 65 points in the standings, respectively, past the season's midway mark.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: