Verstappen suggests more Honda championships could be on the horizon.
"You can never predict what the future holds."
It could be an innocuous statement or a calculated suggestion, but Max Verstappen has indicated that he might still be powered by Honda in the future. Amid ongoing speculation about his next steps, the Dutch driver participated in a pre-Japanese ‘show-run’ with former Red Bull F1 cars in Tokyo, saying to Honda, "It’s goodbye for now."
Verstappen has secured all four of his consecutive drivers’ championships since 2021 using Honda engines, but the Japanese manufacturer is set to exclusively partner with Aston Martin starting in 2026. The 27-year-old has been linked to both Aston Martin and Mercedes, with team advisor Dr. Helmut Marko often acknowledging the presence of contract 'exit' clauses.
"I’m still quite young, and you never know what the future may bring," Verstappen mentioned in Tokyo. This weekend marks Honda’s final home race in partnership with Red Bull.
"I just want to enjoy the weekend and push for the fastest times, but it’s also a moment to reflect on what we’ve accomplished together in the sport," he stated to the Algememeen Dagblad newspaper. "And who knows, perhaps in the future as well. I could have never imagined the success we reached with four championships together."
On Thursday in Suzuka, Verstappen openly expressed his support for a social media post that compared Liam Lawson’s dismissal to "bullying," and he also candidly discussed his experience driving the challenging 2025 Red Bull. "From my side, it’s very tough to assess how difficult or how enjoyable the car is to drive since I have never raced for another team," he remarked. "I adapt as best as I can."
Other articles
Tsunoda is optimistic about perfecting the setup of the Red Bull car.
Formula 1 | Yuki Tsunoda believes that getting to grips with the challenging 2025 Red Bull may depend more on the setup than on its inherent traits. With Liam (...)
Max Verstappen: I've told the team everything I think about the replacement.
On Thursday in Suzuka, Max Verstappen publicly commented for the first time on Red Bull Racing's decision to replace his teammate Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda.
Photo Gallery: 03/04. Japanese Grand Prix, Thursday
© Editorial Office F1News.Ru 1997-2025. Media Registration Certificate E-no. FS77-29173. Registered by the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Communications.
Russell is "not concerned in the slightest" about securing a Mercedes seat for 2026.
Formula 1 | George Russell stated on Thursday that he is not concerned at all about his upcoming contract discussions. Max Verstappen is becoming increasingly (…)
The new Ferrari floor won't be ready until Bahrain.
Formula 1 | The new floor for Ferrari's 2025 car will not be introduced until next weekend in Bahrain, as reported by the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. The (…)
Verstappen suggests more Honda championships could be on the horizon.
Formula 1 | It might be an unremarkable remark, or it may serve as a tactical clue - but Max Verstappen has indicated that he could remain powered by Honda in the (…)