Although Red Bull has to bear in mind that at some stage he will face the future without Max Verstappen, it aims to have him with his team in 2026, says Team Principal Christian Horner.
Verstappen’s future has once again been the center of speculation in recent weeks, with a strong link to Mercedes, where George Russell will end his contract at the end of the season. The Dutch have yet to confirm that they will drive for Red Bull in 2026. (Photo above, photo at Verstappen) Confident in a proper contract, he says the team knows Verstappen won’t drive forever.
“Max is an important part of our team and now it’s been almost ten years,” Horner said. “The intention is to continue doing that, but one day, whether it’s the next year or the next year (it) there are days when the biggest is no longer there.
“You have to keep that in mind. Your team must always keep investing in search of the future. It will not be for the next few years, but you will never know. So you are always investing in young talent. You are always giving opportunities like Arvid Lindblad.
Horner likened the current situation to Sebastian Vettel, who will leave Red Bull at the end of the 2014 season, winning four straight driver championships but failing to compete for the fifth time.
“Sebastian left after a major change in regulations,” Horner pointed out. “Clearly, 2014 and (Andy Cowell’s Mercedes) engines broke all of us, receiving a dream offer from Ferrari and decided that was his future path. At that stage it was to build a team.
“Things become cycles, sports become cycles. There were two very successful cycles in Formula 1. Building for the next cycle. Of course, that’s hoping to be with Max, but I understand the pressure to come next year as a new power unit manufacturer.
“The challenge is huge. But we have a group of very capable people. We’ve invested a lot. We have a great culture within our team. It’s embarrassing for Mercedes to expect us to be ahead of Mercedes next year.
“There’s everything to play. The great thing is that you have everything under one roof. The chassis engineer sits next to the engine engineer. You shouldn’t be underestimated when you’re talking about the packaging.
“If these groups have the ability to communicate and speak directly within the same facility, it’s valuable and it’ll pay dividends. Maybe it’s ’26, ’27, ’28, and beyond, in the long run for Red Bull, 100% is right.”
Whether a contract or not, Horner knows that Red Bull has to offer Verstappen a car he thinks he can fight for victory. Clive Rose/Getty Images
Despite his confidence in the direction of downplaying Red Bull’s chances of leaving at the end of the season, Horner acknowledges the four-time world champion contract with performance-related clauses.
“Contracts between drivers and teams are always confidential, and driver contracts have an element of performance mechanism,” he said. “Of course, that exists in Max’s contract. The absolute intent is that he’s there and drives for us in 2026.
“It’s inevitable that he has a great interest in every other team in Pit Lane. I think you can understand because George (Russell) has actually sparked all this speculation and probably makes use of his situation and is driving a very good season this year as well.
If Verstappen leaves, he is asked if Plan B is in place and Horner gestures next to him towards Zak Brown and laughs.
“It’s all just as subjective. We’re very focused on the current driver and its relationship. Max is on a deal until 2028. He wants to finish his career with Red Bull cars from start to finish. I think it’s very special and unique for him.
“That’s what we’re focusing on, we’re just focusing on areas where we ignore the noise and know where we need to improve and how to do it.”