Marko acknowledges that Wolff is still pursuing Verstappen.

      Max Verstappen does not provide a "definitive answer" regarding his status as a Red Bull driver in 2026. This interpretation comes from the well-connected Dutch publication De Telegraaf, although team advisor and Verstappen's mentor, Dr. Helmut Marko, appears more certain about the matter. When Osterreich newspaper inquired about rumors that Toto Wolff is still eager to sign Verstappen to Mercedes—likely to thwart a reunion with Adrian Newey at Aston Martin—Marko responded, "We don’t need to discuss that, as Max will remain with Red Bull next year." However, Verstappen himself remains ambiguous. At the Red Bull Ring, he remarked, "I've faced this question before. I don't think we need to revisit it. Should I repeat last year's answer? I don't know. It’s the same response."

      Many analysts in the paddock believe that the sole reason Wolff has not yet re-signed the in-form George Russell is to keep that seat available for Verstappen. Even Wolff's 18-year-old protégé Kimi Antonelli seems to recognize the possibility, stating, "I wouldn’t mind working with Max either, but to be honest, I’m really happy with George right now." Russell insists that it’s typical for Wolff to want a driver of Verstappen’s caliber, saying, "But if I’m performing well, what do I have to worry about? There are two seats in each team."

      So, if Marko is so confident about Verstappen staying, why does the Mercedes rumor persist? Marko explained, "Toto wants to win and continues discussions. He knows that if he has a Max Verstappen, his chances improve." Given the upcoming overhaul of chassis and engine regulations next year, Verstappen’s odds of clinching the world championship may be better with Mercedes. In fact, Verstappen seems to have already dismissed the idea of securing a fifth consecutive drivers’ title with Red Bull, stating, "With the current situation? Not very realistic. It’s almost a miracle that I’m third in the championship."

      When asked about 2026, he was cautious, saying, "I want to focus on the steps we can still take first. Next year is always uncertain, but this season won't affect that." Regarding Mercedes, he acknowledged, "With the previous regulations, Mercedes had everything organized from the start, and we only managed to catch up in the last year. Currently, we started strong, but McLaren has now surpassed us. However, a team performing well now may not be as strong next year."

      One of Verstappen's significant concerns about 2026 could be Red Bull’s own power unit project in collaboration with Ford. Team principal Christian Horner recently mentioned to Sport Bild that expecting to take the lead right away would be presumptuous. Marko admitted, "I was surprised to read that. Internally, he (Horner) doesn’t convey the same message. We're operating within our engine limits and don’t believe we face a considerable disadvantage right now." He continued, "Other manufacturers will also need to build entirely new engines for next year. We have experienced personnel, many of whom we recruited from established companies. There may be unexpected developments. I certainly hope that none of the engine manufacturers dominates like Mercedes did in 2014."