Max Verstappen commits to Red Bull until 2028
Max Verstappen has firmly declared his intention to remain with Red Bull until his contract concludes in 2028, dismissing speculation linking him to Mercedes and Aston Martin, reports BritPanorama.
The 28-year-old Dutchman endured a challenging 2025 campaign, ultimately falling just two points short of Lando Norris, who claimed his maiden world championship for McLaren.
Speaking to Blick, Verstappen stated: “I’m 28 now and I have a contract with Red Bull until 2028. I want to fulfil that contract. At this point in time, I’m ruling out a change of team.” His commitment comes despite persistent rumours about performance clauses that had cast doubt over his future at the Milton Keynes outfit.
The 2025 season proved tumultuous for Red Bull, marked by significant departures at senior level. Christian Horner left his position as team principal, whilst technical genius Adrian Newey also departed the organisation.
Verstappen expressed particular sadness at losing Helmut Marko, who stepped down at the season’s end: “It’s a shame that I won’t have my friend and mentor Helmut Marko by my side in 2026. I’ll miss him.” Despite the upheaval, Red Bull staged a remarkable recovery during the campaign’s latter stages, having trailed by 104 points before mounting their title challenge.
Verstappen reflected on the turnaround: “In the midst of the turmoil surrounding the change of team boss, no one would have believed we could do it.” However, concerns have emerged regarding the readiness of several teams’ machinery just hours before Red Bull unveils its 2026 challenger alongside Racing Bulls.
According to reports from F1-Insider, rumours are circulating that Red Bull, Ferrari and Alpine may face difficulties presenting race-ready cars when pre-season testing commences in Barcelona behind closed doors. However, it should be noted that no evidence currently supports these claims, and none of the three teams have issued any official statement on the matter.
Red Bull finished third in the 2025 constructors’ standings, trailing both McLaren and Ferrari, with Verstappen contributing an extraordinary 421 of the team’s 451 points. The forthcoming 2026 regulations have prompted warnings that even elite drivers may face adaptation challenges.
Experts suggest the sweeping technical changes could favour particular driving styles, potentially reshuffling the competitive order. One analyst noted: “There is a chance that new regulations could favour a certain type of driver. Lando Norris could benefit from the new car and grow even more as a driver.” Regarding Verstappen specifically, concerns were raised: “Can I see the new regulations not benefiting Max? Yes, because there is a human element to Formula One.” The assessment concluded that leading drivers including Verstappen, Hamilton and Norris will all need to adapt their approaches this year.
The world of Formula One is as unpredictable as ever, with the cycle of change keeping drivers and teams on their toes. As Verstappen navigates a season fraught with challenges, the question remains: can he adapt to new regulations while staying true to his commitment to Red Bull?
