Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has put an end to speculation about his future, confirming he will stay with the team for the 2026 season.

In a statement at the Hungarian Grand Prix, Verstappen, a four-time world champion, revealed he had never seriously considered leaving Red Bull, despite being courted by Mercedes. The Dutch driver is under contract with Red Bull until 2028 and has been in discussions with the team about improving their performance.

“I’ve never really said anything about it because I was just focused on talking to the team about how we can improve our performance, future ideas for next year as well,” Verstappen said. “But yeah, I think it’s time to basically stop all the rumours. And for me, it’s always been quite clear that I was staying anyway.”

Verstappen’s confirmation has significant implications for his Mercedes counterpart, George Russell, who had been expecting the Red Bull driver to stay with the team. Russell, who has made it clear he wants reassurances about his position at Mercedes, has stated he is not in a hurry to sign a new contract.

Russell’s situation is complicated by the fact that Mercedes are his managers as well as his employers, creating a unique situation that has made negotiations over his contract challenging. The British driver has expressed concerns about his position at the team, citing a lack of control in the agreement and misaligned interests.

“We have been in a bit of a unique situation for the last few months, I don’t have huge power in this agreement,” Russell said. “But its my job to perform and reduce that risk.”

Russell has stated he wants to take the forthcoming summer break to think more carefully about his position and has expressed a desire to enjoy the time off without worrying about contracts. The British driver has been in discussions with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, but has made it clear that he wants to prioritize his performance on the track.

“Toto and I have spoken a lot this week, but we haven’t spoken once about the contract, because we’re both trying to solve the car’s performance and get the team in the right place,” Russell said. “And I personally want to go into the summer break and enjoy the only two weeks off I have in the year. I don’t want to be thinking about contracts. And there isn’t really a major time pressure now from my side, nor from Mercedes’ side.”

The uncertainty surrounding Russell’s future has sparked speculation about the potential departure of other Mercedes drivers, including Kimi Antonelli. However, Verstappen’s confirmation has effectively ruled out the possibility of Kimi joining Red Bull.

“I think it’s time to basically stop all the rumours,” Verstappen said. “And for me, it’s always been quite clear that I was staying anyway.”

The Red Bull driver’s confirmation has provided a sense of stability for the team, which has been plagued by uncertainty in recent months. With Verstappen’s future now secure, the focus will shift to the 2026 season and the team’s chances of competing for another championship title.

The Hungarian Grand Prix, which took place at the Hungaroring circuit, was won by Max Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Perez. The Mexican driver secured his first win of the season, with Verstappen finishing in third place.