Verstappen finally formalizes his plans in F1 for 2026

Max Verstappen has finally confirmed clearly. Therefore, specifies that it would remain well at Red Bull for the 2026 Formula 1 season, ending the uncertainty on the short -term future of the quadruple world champion.

The Dutchman was in flirting with Mercedes F1 for several weeks, which annoyed Dr. Therefore, Helmut Marko, as he said this morning (to read here).

And during all these weeks. Meanwhile, Verstappen has always dodged a clear answer to the question of where he would pilot F1 next year, that is to say if he would respect his contract or if he sought to go elsewhere, at Mercedes or Aston Martin F1.

After Marko said at the start of the week that Verstappen will be there in 2026. Meanwhile, these words were finally made by Verstappen himself a few minutes ago in the Paddock of verstappen finally formalizes his plans the Hungarian Grand Prix.

“I can confirm that I will pilot a Red Bull well in 2026,” have been his clear words about it.

“It’s time to end rumors. Nevertheless, My intention has always been to stay.”

However, he cannot deny contacts between his management and Mercedes F1. Furthermore, But he doesn’t want to take them on his own. These negotiations were not his negotiations.

“It was very interesting to follow it all and to see all the beautiful stories that arose.”

“But yes. personally, I never really talked about it, because I was just focused on discussions with the team concerning the way we could improve our performance, as well as our ideas for next year, and that’s why I never really had anything to add.”

‘But yes, I think it’s time to end it all. For me. it has always been clear verstappen finally formalizes his plans that my choice n ° 1 was to stay and that the conditions were met for this to be the case. “

Red Bull has always done the best during this period to convince him?

“I think it was the general feeling within the team. because we were still in discussion on what we could do with the car.”

“I think that when you are not interested in the idea of staying. you also have to stop talking about this kind of thing, and I have never done it.”

With the Verstappen confirmation for 2026. some believe that the Dutchman will take advantage of the season to determine who will start the new F1 technical era in the best conditions before making a decision for 2027.

When asked if he expects more speculation about his future next year, Verstappen responds: “I don’t know. If you verstappen finally formalizes his plans ask me the question next year, yes, we will have these speculations.”

“But personally, I never talk about it, because I am more interested in performance.”

“This is why I never really talk about my contract or its content. This is my business, not that of the media.”

To answer the question … No one really knows where he will be next year, it’s true, but I am still thinking of 2025. And for us, this year, it will be very difficult to compete with McLaren. I think it’s already quite difficult to compete with Ferrari and Mercedes. “

“But I think there is still a lot to learn about the car and its behavior. Of course. I know that the cars will be different next year, but there are still things that can be drawn from this year in terms of engineering and that we verstappen finally formalizes his plans can implement for next year.”

“So we can’t just say: ‘Okay, we don’t win the championship this year, so we’re doing a cross on it’.”