In a twist of events, Verstappen was finally persuaded to confirm that he is not leaving the team, despite the rumors surrounding the Christian Horner ‘sexting’ scandal, Adrian Newey’s departure, and the team’s chaotic season. While they may no longer have the advantage they enjoyed over their rivals last year, McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari have closed the gap. However, Red Bull is still winning with Verstappen, and ultimately, that is what matters.
A notable development is that Jos Verstappen was seen in the Red Bull garage today, having a conversation with Max and his engineer Gianpiero Lambiase. This suggests that the tensions between Jos and Horner have been resolved, or perhaps they have decided to put their differences aside for their home Austrian Grand Prix at Red Bull Ring. It is worth mentioning that Jos previously stated that “Red Bull will explode” and that Horner should be removed from his position.
It seems that a lot has changed since then. The topic of Verstappen’s future beyond 2025 was brought up during the FIA-hosted F1 drivers’ press conference at Red Bull Ring, which was attended by the three-time F1 World Champion. When questioned about the dispute between Horner and Wolff over his services, Verstappen responded by emphasizing the importance of having a competitive car in the future. He mentioned that the team is working well together to improve and that they are already focusing on next year to ensure competitiveness. This response appeared to deflect from the question at hand.
When asked if he would consider leaving Red Bull if they were to falter in the near future, Verstappen dismissed the idea, stating that it is not how Formula 1 works. He expressed his contentment with the team and his long-term contract. Verstappen also mentioned that they are already working on implementing changes to the car for next year, further indicating his commitment to Red Bull. His contract with the team extends until the end of 2028.
In a positive development for Red Bull, they will welcome Ford as a new partner in 2026. Given this news, it was pertinent to inquire about Verstappen’s involvement in integrating their new partner. In response, Verstappen clarified that he is not responsible for designing the engine but emphasized the importance of understanding the basics and the direction of the project.
“The team has assembled a large number of talented individuals,” Verstappen disclosed. “And honestly, all I can say about it is that everyone is giving their all to ensure that the engine is the fastest it can be. I enjoy being part of the discussions. It’s an incredibly exciting project for the entire team.
“I have complete faith that everyone is doing their utmost. We will have to wait and see how things turn out. However, based on what I have witnessed at the factory during my visits, they have all the necessary resources to make it a success. Hopefully, it will be.”
Interestingly, up until this point in the press conference, there has been no response to the straightforward question that Ben Hunt raised once again: “Will you continue to drive for Red Bull next year?”
Finally, Verstappen replied: “You didn’t gather that from my previous answer? Alright, yes. But that’s what I meant. We are already working on next year’s car as well, you know. Yeah, I believe that when you are fully focused on that, it means you are also driving for the team.”
A simple statement such as “I will be a Red Bull driver next year” would have sufficed as an answer, but instead, he complicated it. It’s no wonder that the speculation will persist, particularly if Mercedes (for example) begins consistently outperforming Red Bull. Keep an eye on this situation!