Helmut Marko has officially announced that Max Verstappen will continue to drive for Red Bull in the upcoming season, as the Dutch racer opted to stay loyal to his current team. Despite attracting interest from Mercedes, the four-time Formula 1 champion decided against switching teams from Milton Keynes to Brackley for the 2026 season.
Verstappen’s decision was reportedly made during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, where he claimed an unexpected victory in the Sprint race before finishing fourth behind the McLaren duo and Charles Leclerc in the main race on Sunday.
According to reports from Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Verstappen is satisfied with Red Bull’s current structure and has been impressed by his early collaboration with the new team principal, Laurent Mekies, who took over following Christian Horner’s departure after a two-decade tenure.
Even if Verstappen had contemplated leaving Red Bull in 2025, any potential exit would have been complex. His contract’s release clause would have only been activated if he ranked fourth or lower in the drivers’ championship by the summer break, but his performance at Spa-Francorchamps secured him the third position.
In an interview at the Belgian GP paddock with Sport.de, Marko unequivocally stated that he anticipates Verstappen to remain with the team until the 2026 season. This development has significant implications for his competitors, particularly Mercedes, who were strongly linked with the Dutch driver had he chosen to make a switch.
With Verstappen out of the equation, George Russell is expected to commit his future to Mercedes. Team principal Toto Wolff, who had left room for Verstappen in discussions, can now focus on finalizing contract negotiations with Russell.
A recent report from the Daily Mail following the Belgian GP indicates that Russell is nearing a lucrative multi-year extension worth £30 million annually, positioning him as one of the highest-paid drivers on the grid behind Verstappen and his former teammate, Lewis Hamilton.
Formula 1 enthusiasts can now catch every practice, qualifying session, and race live through Sky’s new Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle, offering a £192 saving. This package includes access to over 100 TV channels, along with complimentary subscriptions to Netflix and Discovery+.
The reported salary increase for Russell is well-deserved, given his performance alongside Hamilton during their time as teammates and his evolution into the dependable team leader envisioned by Wolff. The future success of his Mercedes teammate remains uncertain.
Kimi Antonelli’s debut season has been a mixed bag, with the Italian teenager facing growing pressure after securing no points in seven Grand Prix races. Antonelli’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, and unlike Russell, there are currently no indications of an imminent contract extension for the 18-year-old.
REWRITE_BLOCKED: The content provided is not suitable for rewriting as it contains structured data, links, and specific formatting that cannot be accurately rewritten while complying with the guidelines provided.