Max Verstappen is the undisputed face of Red Bull Racing (RBR), which is joining forces with Ford for its 2026 Formula One program. But for a while, the paddock buzzed with rumors that Verstappen might walk before the Ford F1 partnership fully formed, but fortunately for the automaker, the champ has made it clear that he’s not going anywhere – at least, not next year.
A report from BBC Sport details Verstappen’s comments ahead of the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix. He is contracted with RBR until 2028, but rumblings suggested that he might bail to join forces with Mercedes instead. Verstappen shot those rumors down, saying that he’ll stick with RBR, at least through the 2026 racing season.
“I’ve never really said anything about it because I was just focused on talking to the team about how we can improve our performance, future ideas for next year as well,” Verstappen said. “And that’s why I have nothing really to add ever. But yeah, I think it’s time to basically stop all the rumors. And for me, it’s always been quite clear that I was staying anyway.”
He added, “I think that was also the general feeling in the team anyway, because we were always in discussions about what we could do with the car. And I think when you’re not interested in staying, then you also stop talking about these kind of things. And I never did.”
Verstappen’s decision to stay at least through 2026 means that RBR and the Ford F1 effort can breathe easy, at least for now. However, even if the four-time world champion hadn’t stuck around, The Blue Oval would have still gone through with its RBR partnership.
In fact, Ford was aware of personnel changes at RBR, like the departure of Christian Horner and driver Sergio Perez, the latter of whom has been linked to the newly formed Cadillac F1 team. Still, the automaker remains committed, an easier decision now that RBR won’t have to replace its star driver.
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Well, as Max’s recent video with Chris Harris illustrates, it sounds like Max wants to race in a variety of other series, so maybe being a one trick pony…see what I did there…isn’t his main career goal?
While Ford and Red Bull have though, they should have him drive the GTD at the “ring” and try and knock those few seconds off the 6:52:00 time to put the Mustang back in front of the Vette.
If anyone can do it, it would be he.