Christian Horner showcased his confidence in Max Verstappen sticking with Red Bull Racing till the end of his F1 career amidst Mercedes rumors. Horner claimed that the driver had clarified his stance with the team and emphasized his dedication to staying with the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
Verstappen has raced for Red Bull Racing since the beginning of his Formula 1 career. He has been with his current team since 2016 and comes out as one of the most competitive drivers on the grid. He clinched four consecutive World Championships between 2021 and 2024, showcasing total domination on the entire grid.
However, that changed this season. McLaren grew stronger and developed the fastest car. Meanwhile, Red Bull’s performance only seemed to decline every weekend. Max Verstappen began losing points every single weekend, and with that, his contention for the fifth title.
After the Austrian GP, where he DNFed after a crash on the opening lap and his teammate finished without points, Sky Italia reported that Mercedes was in contact. They offered him a potential seat for the 2026 F1 season, however, they did not confirm anything.
Amidst the rumors, RBR team principal Christian Horner took a clear stance for his driver. He mentioned Verstappen’s clear dedication to the team.
“Everybody’s very clear on where we’re at. Max has been with Red Bull since the very start of his career, all of his success has come in Red Bull Racing cars, and he’s been a big part of our team, and he has a great deal of faith in the team and the people around him,” Horner told the media.
“He’s made it quite clear that he would like to finish his career in a Red Bull car, from start to finish – I think that’s quite special and unique for him. That’s what we’re focused on, just ignoring the noise and focusing on the areas where we know we need to improve and how to do that.”
As mentioned, neither the teams nor Verstappen has officiated any of the reports so far. The media surrounded Verstappen earlier at Silverstone, but he chose against opening up about the situation.
Max Verstappen clears the air on Mercedes rumors.
Speaking to the media earlier at Silverstone, Verstappen mentioned that “no decision” had been made regarding the contract. He further stated that he does not talk about his contracts, and that he is currently more interested in cooperating with the team this season.
“I do not talk about my contract. No decision has been made at the moment,” he told the media. “For me, it is not about 2026 or anything. I just concentrate on what is coming and the cooperation with the team. Of course, many people come with assumptions. That certainly does not come from me.”
Verstappen is one of the most competitive drivers on the current grid. However, it wouldn’t make sense if Mercedes were to shake up their current driver lineup. George Russell has a solid foundation with their work and driving. Moreover, their rookie this season, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, has been quite impressive as well.
