Piquet suggests that Verstappen will make a decision about his future in 'mid-2026'.
He will reveal it at the close of the season.
A source close to Max Verstappen believes the Dutch driver will remain with Red Bull in 2026. The four-time world champion is currently being heavily rumored to be considering a switch to Mercedes or Aston Martin to avoid the performance drop and chaos at Red Bull coinciding with the introduction of significant new regulations. However, Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff recently expressed his strong belief that the 27-year-old Verstappen will "continue the long journey he’s taken" with the team next year.
Nelson Piquet Jr. has conveyed a similar sentiment. "He will make a decision in the middle of 2026 regarding his future," the Brazilian stated. Piquet, son of the three-time world champion Nelson Piquet, is primarily known for his involvement in the 'crashgate' scandal of 2008. However, he is also the brother of Verstappen’s girlfriend, Kelly.
“Let’s say Mercedes starts 2026 with a significant gap, similar to their situation at the beginning of the hybrid era in 2014,” Piquet, 39, shared on the Pelas Pistas podcast. "For other teams to catch up will take at least two to three seasons." Therefore, Piquet believes Verstappen will monitor the 2026 season from the cockpit of his Red Bull before ultimately deciding his path forward. "Max will make his decision about his future in mid-2026, but he will announce it at the end of the season," he concluded.
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