Red Bull boss Oliver Mintzlaff firmly expects four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen to stay. He even assumes that the Dutchman will end his career with the team.
Oliver Mintzlaff is “not afraid of any performance clauses” in Formula 1 superstar Max Verstappen’s contract, as he emphasized in an interview with “De Telegraaf”. “The most important thing for an athlete is to see that everyone on the team is giving everything for him. And I think Max is impressed with how the results and the mood in the team have developed this year.”
The performance clause is always an issue when it comes to a possible departure for the Dutchman. His contract with Red Bull runs until 2028. If Red Bull stumbles and a fifth world championship title becomes a long way off for the 28-year-old, a farewell would be conceivable, according to considerations.
Mintzlaff said: “Of course Max always wants to win and have the best possible car, but that’s what we want too. As long as Max has the feeling that we’re working on it and doing everything we can for it, I think he’ll stay loyal to us. He also sees how much we’ve invested in our own engine.”
End of career at Red Bull? Mintzlaff confident
The Red Bull CEO therefore feels “that there is enormous appreciation and loyalty on both sides.” And: “There is no doubt in my mind that Max Verstappen will end his career at Red Bull.” Should he “ever stop as a racing driver,” Mintzlaff hopes that the exceptional talent “will remain associated with us in another capacity.”
After winning four titles in a row this season, Verstappen had to hand over the World Cup crown to McLaren driver Lando Norris. But his racing team’s performance curve showed an upward trend again in the second half after a disappointing start to the year. Nevertheless, Red Bull experienced a troubled season in which team boss Christian Horner had to leave and at the end of which Verstappen’s confidant Helmut Marko also announced his departure.
In 2026, Formula 1 will experience the biggest rules revolution in recent history. Among other things, the cars are becoming shorter and narrower, and they are also powered by new engines. Red Bull produces its own engine together with Ford.