Max Verstappen once again declined to comment on the persistent rumors linking him to a potential move from Red Bull to Mercedes for the 2026 season.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has previously stated his interest in signing the four-time world champion for 2026.
According to sources, Verstappen`s contract with Red Bull, which currently extends to 2028, includes a performance clause. This clause would reportedly allow him to leave the team if he is ranked lower than third in the championship standings heading into the summer break in August.
Verstappen is currently third in the standings, nine points ahead of Mercedes driver George Russell. Media reports have speculated that Verstappen could potentially replace Russell at Mercedes, as Russell`s current contract is set to expire after this season.
Last week, following a series of challenging results, Verstappen emphasized that his primary focus remained on improving Red Bull`s car for the 2025 season.
When questioned about the ongoing rumors this week, he responded: “I have nothing further to say. My position remains unchanged.”
He continued, referring to the previous race weekend: “Last week`s result wasn`t good. I believe it was a poor weekend overall, partly due to some bad luck. While I`m not suggesting we would have challenged McLaren, we certainly could have achieved a respectable outcome. Everything I stated last week still stands. My perspective hasn`t shifted.”
Last week, Wolff confirmed his intention to finalize Mercedes` driver lineup for 2026 during the summer break, which follows the Hungarian Grand Prix in early August. This timeframe coincides with when Verstappen`s performance clause, tied to his championship standing, would potentially be activated.
Therefore, no firm decisions regarding either Mercedes` plans or Verstappen`s future can be finalized until after the Hungarian Grand Prix concludes.
According to reports, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner appears unconcerned about the situation. Many within the team reportedly believe that the speculation linking Verstappen to Mercedes is being driven more by his father, Jos, rather than by Max himself.
Deciding where to drive in 2026 is particularly complex due to the significant rule changes planned for Formula 1, affecting both aerodynamics and engine design.
This effectively resets the competitive landscape, making it difficult to accurately predict which teams will be dominant and which will face difficulties.
Sources have indicated that Mercedes is growing increasingly optimistic about their 2026 engine project. However, engine performance alone doesn`t guarantee success, as evidenced by Mercedes currently trailing McLaren, a team they supply engines to, in the championship.
Red Bull`s successful partnership with Honda concludes after this year. From 2026, the team will use its own power units, developed in collaboration with Ford. While there is an expectation within the team that this new engine project might not immediately be the best, its performance relative to competitors in 2026 is impossible to gauge at this stage. Red Bull has historically been strong in its car design capabilities.
When asked if moving to a different team given the many uncertainties of 2026 would be a risk, Verstappen replied: “Exactly. That`s precisely why I have a contract with Red Bull.”
A growing theory suggests Verstappen might remain with Red Bull for the 2025 season – potentially with George Russell signing a one-year extension at Mercedes – allowing him to better evaluate his options for 2026 once the competitive picture becomes clearer.
Some reports have even proposed Verstappen might take a sabbatical year in 2026 to observe how the teams perform, but this was the only suggestion Verstappen definitively dismissed.
When asked if taking a break from Formula 1 was a possibility, he stated firmly: “No, absolutely not.”
Verstappen has increasingly shown interest in participating in GT racing events, notably conducting a widely reported test at the Nurburgring under the pseudonym Franz Herman.
He indicated that he will continue to explore opportunities to increase his involvement in such events.
He commented: “Naturally, in the future, I`ll try to combine [F1] with any other feasible racing activities. I can`t fully prepare for it yet, as I do want to explore racing outside of Formula 1. I`m already doing this through testing, but eventually, I`d like to compete as well.”
Rupert Caldwell 
Tristan Blackwood