Rife rumours about Verstappen's future: Here's the current situation

11:45, 16 Jul

Updated: 12:18, 16 Jul

byLudo van Denderen

Crucial weeks are coming up: will Max Verstappen stay at Red Bull Racing or will he move to another team? In the latter case, likely Mercedes. That a decision for one of the two teams has already been made, as suggested by various media, is not correct.

While Max Verstappen enjoys a short vacation with his family, the Formula 1 world waits in anticipation: in the coming weeks, the Dutchman will indeed make a decision about his future. Although it is suggested otherwise here and there, it is still completely open which team Verstappen will join in 2026.

Verstappen prefers Red Bull Racing

As is now well known, Verstappen has a definite preference for staying with Red Bull Racing. This is the team he owes a lot to, the team where he feels at home, and the team he wants to bring back to the top. But he does want to see a clear direction in which Red Bull is headed in the era after the departure of Christian Horner.

That the team principal has been sidelined by Red Bull GmbH has been met with satisfaction, but whether Verstappen stays with Red Bull depends on more factors; namely the quality of the 2026 car, the new Red Bull Powertrains engine, and the aforementioned future outlook.

Meanwhile, Mercedes has not yet given up hope of signing Verstappen, as it is widely reported in international media. There's a recurring message that Ola Källenius, the CEO of the Mercedes-Benz Group, has now really given permission for Verstappen's arrival. As if that wouldn't have been coordinated before Wolff started his advances…

Will Max Verstappen Soon Leave Red Bull?

Is there one obstacle for Mercedes?

It is also reported that Verstappen's contract is the only remaining obstacle for a transfer. This is truly an absurd reasoning because - as mentioned - Verstappen has not yet decided whether he wants to move. That would be a bigger obstacle.

Verstappen has several performance clauses in his contract, which may be triggered during the summer break. It's known that Verstappen could do so if he's not in a certain position in the championship after the Hungarian Grand Prix. Should this clause not be triggered, because the driver stands too high in the title fight, it's naturally not ruled out that other clauses might be.

Various media also speculate about a huge release clause that Verstappen would have in his contract; a message that was possibly launched into the world by the previous leadership of Red Bull Racing. But in sports - and certainly in Formula 1 - contracts often say little. Suppose Verstappen's contract would state - and this is speculation - that there is a release clause of 100 million dollars, would that really block a transfer?

If Verstappen wants to leave, then Verstappen will leave

Look at football, where players who want to leave almost always just go, with a release clause that's been renegotiated. It's quite conceivable that the same would apply to Verstappen - if that would actually be necessary.

Stories, rumours; there are plenty. Anything can happen in the coming weeks. But at this moment, Verstappen is a driver for Red Bull Racing, and no decision has been made about what will happen in 2026.