Max Verstappen has affirmed his current commitment to Red Bull Racing, indicating no plans to switch teams, which puts a halt to Mercedes’ pursuit of him. Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ team principal, has been keen on securing the signature of the four-time Formula 1 world champion ever since Lewis Hamilton departed from Mercedes in 2024.
Verstappen is under contract with Red Bull Racing until the end of the 2028 season and has expressed his desire to complete his F1 career with the Milton Keynes-based team. Despite rumors during Red Bull’s turbulent period last year, Verstappen decided to stay put.
Although discussions with Mercedes took place, Verstappen opted to support the new team boss, Laurent Mekies, in steering the team in the right direction. However, with new technical regulations coming into effect in 2026, the competition for Verstappen’s services is expected to intensify due to many drivers’ contracts expiring later this year.
In an interview with Blick, Verstappen emphasized his commitment to Red Bull Racing until 2028 and ruled out changing teams for now. He mentioned missing Helmut Marko, his friend and mentor, who won’t be by his side in 2026. Verstappen also hinted at a potential future in team management beyond racing.
Verstappen’s loyalty to Red Bull Racing may shift if the team’s performance deteriorates significantly. He stressed the importance of having competitive machinery to stay with the team. The uncertainty around Red Bull’s competitiveness for the upcoming season adds to the intrigue, with Verstappen anticipating gaining insights during the pre-season tests in January and February.
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Overall, Verstappen’s focus remains on Red Bull Racing for the foreseeable future, but the dynamic nature of F1 leaves room for potential changes based on performance and circumstances in the upcoming season.