The rumor mill in the F1 paddock never stops, and Max Verstappen has been at the center of recent rumblings. Whispers around the garage area suggest that Verstappen could split with Red Bull Racing (RBR), the very team that Ford is partnering with in 2026. Even if Verstappen does cut and run, Ford’s plans won’t change – it’s sticking with RBR no matter what.
According to a report from Motorsport, Verstappen’s contract with RBR is valid through the end of the 2028 racing season. But contracts can be broken, and the four-time world champion’s name has come up in discussions regarding Mercedes and Aston Martin, suggesting that he might be headed for a rival team in the near future.
While Verstappen is an important figure for RBR, Ford Performance head Mark Rushbrook says his departure wouldn’t be a dealbreaker for The Blue Oval. It’s about the technology, not the drivers.
“Everywhere we race we want to have the best team with the best drivers and the best people. But did we sign the deal for any one person in particular? No, because we know that it’s a long-term deal and that those people are going to change,” Rushbrook told Motorsport.
Rushbrook also said that Ford was aware of personnel changes – like the departure of Christian Horner and driver Sergio Perez, the latter of whom has been linked to the newly formed Cadillac F1 team – but remains committed to RBR.
“Do we want to see Max stay in the Red Bull-Ford for 2026 and beyond? Of course,” Rushbrook said. “He’s a champion. He’s a great person and he elevates the entire team with him, but are we going to run away if Max leaves the team? No. We are committed.”
Even though he hasn’t raced under the Ford banner quite yet, Verstappen has already turned some laps in a Blue Oval product. He took the Ford Mustang Dark Horse for a spin earlier this year, putting the powerful pony through its paces in a way only a world champion can.
Comment
Run Max, run. Ford will be the final nail for RBR.