Verstappen predicts more speculation despite 2026 clarity

Max Verstappen says speculation about his future will return next season, even as rumours of a 2026 exit from Red Bull have cooled heading into the summer break.

"If you ask me these questions again next year, we'll have the same speculation again," Verstappen told reporters in Hungary, following weeks of uncertainty about his long-term plans.

Although widely linked to a Mercedes switch, Verstappen has now confirmed he will stay with Red Bull for 2026. Reports suggest he remains free to leave in 2027, regardless of contractual clauses.

Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko said the option to exit was unlikely to be used this season.

"I don't know what considerations he had, personally and with his management," Marko told Sport1. "But from his statements, it was clear that he wanted to stay.

"Even if the exit clause had been triggered, nobody knows what the situation would look like in 2026. Mercedes claims to be the class leader, but there's no evidence. With the chassis, too, we don't know who will win big. There's a lot of uncertainty.

"From his perspective, it makes much more sense to stay, take a look, and, if we're not competitive next year, for him to reconsider his decision."

Sky Deutschland pundit Ralf Schumacher agreed Verstappen had chosen wisely.

"The 2026 season will definitely be exciting with the new cars and who will succeed in designing a good car. That will, of course, open the door to speculation again – including for Max Verstappen.

"But maybe Red Bull will also succeed in building a good car, and then the speculation will subside. But I believe Toto Wolff won't give up. If a team can have the best driver in the world – and that's Verstappen at the moment – then they have to try."

Verstappen’s focus has now returned to Red Bull’s fading 2025 title hopes as McLaren continues to dominate.

"They're flying," he said in Budapest. "My car drives like it's on ice."

Former F1 tester Ho-Pin Tung agreed the gap is alarming. "I think Max might not have had a particularly good fast lap, but nevertheless, this gap is enormous," he told Viaplay.

McLaren boss Andrea Stella credited the team's bold approach.

"The pace and scope of development over the past two years is greater than I experienced at Ferrari during its heyday," he said. "We set very high goals for 2025 and developed the car very aggressively. This gave us a lead that we were able to increase over the course of the season."

Marko admitted the championship is slipping away. "The sprint win in Spa shows that the potential is there. But the situation has become significantly more difficult, and it takes a lot of optimism to still believe in winning the title."]]>