Max Verstappen’s future at Red Bull remained a central topic in Formula 1 as speculation grew around performance-based exit clauses and interest from rival teams. Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies said the driver market was working in both directions, with many good drivers contacting the team about seats, and he said the attention was not a distraction. Verstappen’s contract runs through the end of 2028, but reports have centered on clauses that could give him an exit after this season, with one possible trigger linked to the period after the Hungarian Grand Prix if he is outside the top two in the championship. An October decision deadline has also been mentioned.
Mekies said Red Bull’s priority was to make the car faster and keep Verstappen, and he said the ideal long-term lineup was Verstappen alongside Isack Hadjar. Mekies praised Hadjar’s recent form, noting the rookie had finished in the top six in each of his last six grands prix and had recovered to sixth in Belgium after starting from the back because of a penalty. He said Red Bull wanted to preserve the Verstappen-Hadjar pairing as the team pushed to close the gap to the front.
Verstappen said he was focused on helping Red Bull solve its complicated problems ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, and he did not give a clear answer when asked about his future. The Dutch driver has not won a race in 2026, and Red Bull’s first season as a fully fledged works team has been marked by teething issues. After 10 rounds, the team was described as arguably only the fourth-fastest package on the grid, behind McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes, and that lack of consistent pace has fueled speculation about Verstappen’s future beyond this season. Mekies said he was optimistic Verstappen would stay if the car continued to improve, while Verstappen said he would speak up himself if anything changed.
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