Red Bull has to keep in mind that it will face a future without Max Verstappen at some stage but the intention is for him to still be with the team in 2026, says team principal Christian Horner.
Verstappen’s future has been the center of speculation once again in recent weeks, with strong links to Mercedes where George Russell will be out of contract at season’s end. The Dutchman has yet to confirm he will drive for Red Bull in 2026, and while Horner (pictured at left, above, with Verstappen) is confident in the contract that is in place, he says the team is aware Verstappen won’t drive for it forever.
“Max is a key part of our team and has been for pretty much 10 years now,” Horner said. “The intention is to keep that going. But one day, whether it’s the year after or the year after [that], there will be a day that there is no more Max.
“You always have to have that in mind, that the team always has to keep looking and investing in the future. Hopefully that won’t be for several years to come, but you never know. So, you’re always investing in young talent, you’re always giving opportunities like we did today with Arvid Lindblad, to see the next generation coming through. Because one thing for sure in this business: nothing stands still.”
Horner likened the current situation to Sebastian Vettel leaving Red Bull at the end of the 2014 season, having scored four straight drivers’ championships but being unable to fight for a fifth.
“Sebastian left after there was a significant regulation change,” Horner noted. “Obviously 2014 and [Andy Cowell’s Mercedes] engine, smashed all of us, and he got a dream offer from Ferrari and decided that that was his future path. I remember [Red Bull founder] Dietrich Mateschitz telling me at the time, ‘We don’t need the best driver if we don’t have the best car.’ At that stage, it was about building a team.
“Things go in cycles and sport goes in cycles. We’ve had two incredibly successful cycles in Formula 1, and what we want to do is build towards the next cycle. Now, of course, we want that to be with Max, but we understand the pressure that there is next year, with us coming in as a new power unit manufacturer.
“The challenge of that is enormous. But we’ve got a hugely capable group of people. We’ve invested significantly. We’ve got a great culture within the team. Who knows? To expect us to be ahead of Mercedes next year is… It would be embarrassing for Mercedes if we were, or for any manufacturer. But I think we’re going to be in a competitive position, potentially even to where we are today relative to our other PU manufacturers.
“There’s everything to play for. What’s great is having it all under one roof, chassis engineers sitting next to engine engineers. That shouldn’t be underestimated when you’re talking about the packaging.
“When you’ve got the ability to have those groups communicating and talking with each other directly over a cup of coffee and within the same facility, that is priceless, and that will pay dividends. Maybe it won’t be in ’26, but ’27, ’28, and beyond, long term for Red Bull, 100% it is the right thing.”
Contract or not, Horner knows it’s on Red Bull to provide Verstappen with a car he feels is capable of fighting for wins. Clive Rose/Getty Images
Despite his confidence in the direction Red Bull is heading and downplaying the chances of Verstappen leaving at the end of the season, Horner acknowledges there are performance-related clauses in the four-time world champion’s contract.
“The contracts between the drivers and the teams are always going to remain confidential and with any driver’s contract there is an element of a performance mechanism,” he said. “Of course that exists in Max’s contract. The absolute intention is that he will be there and driving for us in 2026.
“It’s inevitable that he’s of huge interest to every other team in the pit lane and I think actually George [Russell] triggered all of this speculation, probably trying to leverage his own situation and force clarity, which you can understand because he’s driven a very good season as well this year. Inevitably, there will always be speculation about it. I think the most important thing is the clarity which exists between Max and the team, and that’s very clear.”
Asked if he had a Plan B in place if Verstappen were to leave, Horner gestured towards Zak Brown next to him and laughed: “Oscar Piastri!
“It’s all as subjective as that. We’re very focused on our current drivers and our relationship with that. Max has got a contract until 2028. He’s made it quite clear he would like to finish his career in a Red Bull car, from start to finish. I think that’s quite special and unique for him.
“That’s what we’re focused on and we’re just ignoring the noise and focusing on the areas we know where we need to improve and how to do that.”
