Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner has expressed his belief that the ongoing speculation connecting reigning world champion Max Verstappen with a potential move to Mercedes is likely a source of annoyance for his driver.
The rumors intensified recently when Mercedes driver George Russell hinted that his own contract extension might be on hold due to Mercedes` pursuit of Verstappen. This was followed by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff`s acknowledgment that “conversations” had taken place with the Dutch driver`s representatives.
Verstappen, who has secured the world championship title for the past four seasons, holds a contract with Red Bull that runs through 2028. However, it is understood that his agreement includes certain clauses that could potentially allow for an earlier departure.
Speaking after qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix, Horner commented on the situation: “It is a lot of noise. I think Max gets quite annoyed by it.”
He asserted Red Bull`s clear position regarding Verstappen`s contract: “We are very clear with the contract that we have with Max until 2028. So, anything is entirely speculative that is being said, but we tend not to pay too much attention to it.”
When questioned on whether he suspected Mercedes of attempting to destabilize Red Bull strategically at their home race in Spielberg, Horner suggested that Russell`s remarks were likely genuine reflections of his own frustration over not yet having a new contract confirmed.
“I can imagine that George is frustrated he hasn’t been given a contract yet, but that’s between him and his team,” Horner stated. Regarding Verstappen, he added, “The situation with Max, we know clearly where we’re at and obviously as does Max. Everything is subject to noise and, obviously, within any contract it remains confidential between the parties.”
Mercedes had publicly courted Verstappen last year following Lewis Hamilton`s decision to join Ferrari. However, Wolff had previously indicated that their pursuit had ceased until this weekend`s renewed commentary.
Verstappen`s future with Red Bull had seemed less certain last year amidst a public disagreement between his father, Jos Verstappen, and Christian Horner. Nonetheless, relations between the driver`s side and the team`s senior management appear to have since become more stable.
The primary factor influencing Verstappen`s long-term decision is expected to be where he perceives his best opportunity lies for winning additional championships. Paddock whispers suggest that Mercedes might be gaining an advantage over competitors in the development of the new power units slated for introduction next year.
It remains unclear whether Verstappen would consider leaving Red Bull as early as the conclusion of the current season or if he would prefer to evaluate the competitive dynamics during the first year under the significantly new regulations.
Chandhok Predicts Verstappen to Assess Options in 2026
Formula 1 analyst Karun Chandhok believes Max Verstappen will likely stay with Red Bull through the 2026 season before potentially seeking a different opportunity in 2027 if a better option becomes available.
Chandhok remarked, “We don’t know what the thresholds are in terms of him being able to extricate himself from the Red Bull contract, but if you were Max Verstappen, you would look next year at the performance of the top teams and then pick and choose where you want to go in the future.”
He added that any team on the grid would want a driver of Verstappen`s caliber, recognizing him as the standout performer of recent times.
“From Max’s side,” Chandhok continued, “the new generation of rules and power units could set the tone for the next five or six years, like what happened with Lewis back in 2014.”
He concluded that 2025 will likely be a period of assessment for teams and drivers, potentially leading to a highly dynamic driver market in 2027.
