Max Verstappen will still drive for Red Bull in 2026
Max Verstappen loyal to Red Bull.
It's now official: Max Verstappen will remain with Red Bull Racing in 2026. All the speculation about a possible departure, all the newspaper chatter that has been making headlines for months, can be put to rest.
The performance clause, which would have allowed him to leave the team if he wasn't in the top three at the time of the summer break, is no longer active. Currently third in the world championship standings with a nest egg of 185 points behind the two McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri (266 points) and Lando Norris (250), the Dutchman is guaranteed to enter the break in the top three. Before next Sunday's Hungarian GP, he has a 28-point lead over the fourth-place finisher (George Russell, Mercedes). And since a victory earns 25 points...
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who openly coveted the four-time world champion, must now turn to other options, notes Dutch media outlet De Telegraff. The German team is expected to soon confirm its drivers for 2026: Russell and young Italian hopeful Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
For his part, as reported by his country's daily, Verstappen is satisfied with his collaboration with new manager Laurent Mekies, the Frenchman who replaced Christian Horner on July 9. By staying at Red Bull, Max Verstappen is also giving himself time to reflect. If his 2026 car doesn't allow him to compete with the best, he will be able to test the market again.
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