Verstappen confirms staying with Red Bull for 2026: "It's time to stop all the [Mercedes] rumours"

Written by Meghana Sree

Max Verstappen has confirmed that he will be staying with Red Bull for the 2026 season, after months of rumours that hinted a move to Mercedes. The four-time World Champion criticised "people waffling so much throughout the whole season" and closed the lid on further speculation of his future at Red Bull.

Max Verstappen confirms his commitment to Red Bull for the 2026 season | Credit: Formula One

Speaking on the eve of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen has decisively given a confirmation of his commitment to the Milton Keynes-based team for the 2026 season, which will see the rollout of the new regulations.

While the topic of his potential link to Mercedes has been increasingly fuelling Formula One's rumour mill in recent months, especially after Toto Wolff's comments that suggested conversations with Verstappen's camp, the four-time World Champion's confirmation firmly shuts down further rumours.

Sharing his thoughts ahead of the Hungarian weekend, Verstappen stated: "The thing is, people are waffling so much throughout the whole season while the only one that actually can or should speak is not speaking.

"That's me, and I do that on purpose because it makes no sense to start throwing things around and actually that should be the same for everyone.

"Some people just like to stir the pot, some people just like to create drama but for me it's always been quite clear and also for next year.

"I'm discussing with the team already the plans, the things that we want to change next year so that means I'm also staying with the team for next year and if my boat is next to Toto's then the boat is next to Toto's.

"You can have a personal relationship with someone even if you don't have a working relationship with someone."

Verstappen's comments come a week after Red Bull's first race weekend in nearly two decades without Christian Horner at the helm.

Speaking of Laurent Mekies stepping in as Team Principal and CEO after Horner's exit, Verstappen added: "He's very friendly, he's very open, very motivated, very driven. That's of course what you want to see from a boss and I like it.

"It's a nice atmosphere that he is creating and I'm very excited for the future, what we can do together.

"Of course, for this year the amount of influence with the car is difficult. You jump in the middle of the season but of course for the future, you have a lot more say and influence on that. He's asking, for me at least, the right questions and ideas. I like it."

The Dutchman arrives for the Hungarian Grand Prix fresh from a Sprint win at Spa and a frustrating fourth-place finish in the Grand Prix behind Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, after being compromised with set-up for the main event.

Occupying third in the Drivers' Championship, it has been a tough campaign for a fifth title for Verstappen in the face of McLaren's dominating run and his own team's crumbling performance.

Verstappen and Red Bull will be hoping for more consistency heading into the unknowns of 2026, as they endeavour to climb back to the top.