Will the four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen take a break next year? Or does he even switch to direct competition? After the rumor mill has bubbled violently around the F1 champion in the past few days, Red Bull boss Oliver Mintzlaff has now spoken out.
The 49-year-old spoke in the “Bild” about the speculation about the Red Bull team and said unequivocally about Max Verstappen: “I am convinced that he will continue to contest the long way he has been going with Red Bull. Max will also drive for us in 2026.”
The Austrian-British designer currently only drives its own ambitions in Formula 1, and had so far been lagging a little back on the dominant McLaren pilot Oscar Piatri and Lando Norris in Saudi Arabia.
According to Oliver Mintzlaff, the future of Max Verstapens has been clarified, although the racing team currently runs far behind its own expectations and, above all, those of the four-time world champion in the premier class of motorsport. “But we don’t panic because of this. Such a Formula 1 season is extremely long,” said Mintzlaff.
In 2025 Verstappen was only surprisingly won in Japan in the first five races. McLaren in particular is deteriorated, but Ferrari and Mercedes also don’t make it easy for the fourfold champion. His RB21 is far from so dominant compared to his last four predecessors.
In the middle of last season in particular, Verstappen’s superiority started to crumble, but in the end it was enough to the title. Verstappen Treaty with the team of the Austrian beverage manufacturer runs until the end of 2028 – but it probably has exit clauses.
Verstappen himself holds back
“It is also part of a long -term partnership that you hold together in difficult times,” said Mintzlaff. Verstappen will “pull together” with Red Bull if “the attitude is lived that we want to build the best car in the world”.
This is the only way to come back success. According to Mintzlaff, Verstappen also wants to end his career at Red Bull. “According to my knowledge, nothing has changed.”
The Dutchman himself did not want to participate in the speculation about his future in the run -up to the race in Dschidda on Sunday. “Many people talk about it, just me. I want to focus on our car and just remember to work with the team,” said Verstappen before qualifying on Saturday.
The season is still young, which is why Verstappen and Red Bull does not write off. You don’t have to “run away” if it doesn’t run as desired.