CEO Mintzlaff 'confident' Verstappen will remain.

      "We’ve gained immensely from Max"

      The CEO of Red Bull Racing, the energy drink company, is "confident" that the brand will not lose Max Verstappen to a competing Formula 1 team. Amid speculations around the paddock in Jeddah regarding the next move of the four-time world champion, it's worth noting that Verstappen himself responded with a clear "No" when asked about a potential exit.

      "We’re all unhappy with the current state of affairs. No one wants to gloss over it," said Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff, who took the helm after the passing of Dietrich Mateschitz, during a rare visit to the paddock on Saturday. However, when queried about the possibility of Verstappen activating an exit clause, he affirmed: "No. I’m convinced he will continue along the lengthy journey he has embarked on with Red Bull till now."

      "Max will be driving for us in 2026," stated the 49-year-old German to Bild newspaper. "On one hand, there’s a reason he extended his contract until the end of 2028, and on the other, he has clarified his stance recently," Mintzlaff added. Upon being informed that Verstappen himself has also downplayed the chances of a departure, Mintzlaff responded: "Exactly."

      "Max once mentioned to me that he started his career at Red Bull and wishes to conclude it here as well. To my knowledge, that hasn't changed. We’ve gained tremendously from Max - the top driver in the world. However, he also owes a lot to Red Bull. We are navigating a tough period at the moment, but I don’t sense that this has caused doubt for Max."

      "As long as we maintain our commitment to building the best car in the world, he’ll remain aligned with us. That is the only path to regain our success. And we will."

      "A long-term partnership also entails standing together during challenging times." Nonetheless, it’s also possible that, similar to Adrian Newey and other crucial team members who have left, Verstappen may grow weary of the internal conflicts within Red Bull Racing. Reports suggest that team principals Christian Horner and Dr. Helmut Marko no longer have a good relationship.

      "I have full confidence in each and every employee," Mintzlaff asserted. "This includes our management team. Helmut and Christian both seek maximum success and are dedicated to achieving it."

      "We’ve revisited this matter recently. It’s evident that every relationship has its highs and lows, but let’s not overlook that the two are set to compete in their 400th race together at the next grand prix in Miami. Helmut was the one who hired Christian back in 2005," the German noted. "They share a significant bond. It’s understandable that with all the stress, emotions, and fervor, feelings can sometimes escalate. But it’s critical to sit down and have discussions privately, which is what we’re doing."