Max Verstappen Ends Mercedes Rumors, Confirms He’ll Stay With Red Bull for 2026 F1 Season

Max Verstappen has finally put an end to the swirling speculation surrounding his future in Formula 1, confirming he will remain with Red Bull Racing for the 2026 season. The reigning four-time World Champion addressed the rumors ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, firmly shutting down talk of a potential switch to Mercedes.

For months, Max Verstappen’s name had been linked to a seat at Mercedes, with Team Principal Toto Wolff publicly admitting to discussions. However, during the previous race weekend in Belgium, Toto Wolff backpedaled, stating his preference to move forward with his current line-up of George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli. Still, the rumors refused to die down—until now.

Speaking to the media in Budapest, the 27-year-old Red Bull driver made his stance unmistakably clear. “The thing is, people are waffling so much throughout the whole season while the only one that actually can or should speak is not speaking. That’s me,” Max Verstappen said. “It makes no sense to start throwing things around. For me, it’s always been quite clear.”

He continued, “I’m discussing with the team already the plans, the things we want to change next year. So that means I’m staying with the team for next year.”

Max Verstappen also made light of the rumors about his and Wolff’s yachts possibly spending time together over the summer break. “You can have a personal relationship with someone even if you don’t have a working relationship with them,” he added. “I think it’s time to basically stop all the rumors.”

This confirmation comes at a pivotal time for Formula 1. The 2026 season will usher in an entirely new era of regulations, including significant changes to both chassis and power unit designs. Red Bull has been actively preparing for the transition, now under fresh leadership following the recent departure of longtime Team Principal Christian Horner. Laurent Mekies, formerly with Ferrari and AlphaTauri, has taken over the reins.

Despite only a short time working together, Verstappen expressed confidence in Laurent Mekies’ vision and approach. “He’s very friendly, very open, very motivated, very driven,” Max Verstappen said. “That’s what you want to see from a boss. He’s asking the right questions and bringing in the right energy.”

 

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Red Bull’s dominance in recent seasons, mainly driven by Max Verstappen’s consistency and aggressive racing style, has made the team a powerhouse. His commitment signals confidence not just in the current setup but in Red Bull’s long-term ambitions post-2026.

Verstappen’s decision also solidifies the driver lineup picture heading into a transformative period for the sport. With speculation officially put to rest, fans can now turn their attention to the on-track action as the second half of the 2025 season unfolds.

Whether Red Bull can maintain their grip on the grid remains to be seen, but one thing is sure: Max Verstappen isn’t going anywhere.