Christian Horner: We simply ignore all this fuss.

      Christian Horner has to answer questions about Max Verstappen once again this weekend, but according to the Red Bull Racing team boss, this new wave of rumors was started by George Russell, who is seemingly trying to clarify his relationship with Mercedes.

      Question: There are still many talks about Max Verstappen this weekend. What has he told you? Christian Horner: Of course, people are talking a lot about it right now, but the most important thing is the relationship between the driver and the team, you understand? There are also agreements that define them, and everyone is quite clear on what they are. Max has been with Red Bull from the very beginning of his career, and all his achievements have been while driving Red Bull Racing cars. He is part of our team, believes in it and the people around him. Although rumors and really all the noise are inevitable, I believe our current position is quite comfortable. We can't control what's happening around us, but inside the team, we definitely know what’s going on.

      Question: Do you have a Plan B in case he does leave after all? Christian Horner: (smiling mischievously) You know… Oscar Piastri. Any discussions on this topic would be just as subjective. We are fully focused on our current drivers and our relationships with them. Max has a contract until 2028, clearly indicating he would like to finish his career at Red Bull – I think he's in a unique position. That’s where all our attention is directed. And we simply ignore all the noise, concentrating only on areas where we need to improve.

      Question: You say it’s all just speculation and hype, but Max himself fuels it. He was asked twice whether he will stay with Red Bull in 2026? In both cases, he did not give a guarantee. So, can you clarify if Max will race for Red Bull next year? Christian Horner: You see, all information about driver-team contracts will always remain confidential. Every such contract includes conditions related to performance, and of course, Max’s contract is no different. He aligns his intentions with our team and will race with us in 2026. Interest from other teams in the championship is inevitable. In fact, it seems that this wave of rumors was started by George Russell, who’s probably trying to clarify his own situation as soon as possible, which is understandable given he’s having a very good season. So, speculation is inevitable, but there is clarity between Max and our team, and I believe that’s most important.

      Question: Regarding the “Plan B,” you jokingly mentioned Oscar, but that’s unlikely to happen. Could George Russell become a real candidate for Red Bull if Max decides to leave? Christian Horner: It's surprising that George still doesn’t have a contract. We are not in negotiations with him. It seems he’s quite confident he will keep his seat. Our team is strong and resilient. You see the Racing Bulls drivers, you saw Arvid Lindblad during the training, and 2026 will be a transitional year for us. There will probably be the most significant regulation change in Formula 1 in the last half-century, with a transition to new generation chassis and power units happening simultaneously. Nobody can say what the balance of power will look like. Maybe Aston Martin will take the lead. But it could also be McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes — anyone. Many subjective opinions are out there, but only around this time next year will we have a clear picture of the balance of power. So, there are currently no guarantees that moving to Mercedes would automatically be a more attractive offer.

      Question: I’d like to ask about the second seat in your team. Yuki Tsunoda is still struggling with some issues related to the Red Bull car. When do you plan to make a decision about the second driver? Are you considering someone outside the Red Bull program? Or for next year, will you choose between Liam Lawson, Isaac Hadjar, and Arvid Lindblad? Christian Horner: Of course, priority will go to drivers within our talent pool. Yuki has the opportunity to show by the end of the year that he’s the person who should stay in our car. We have Isaac, who is doing quite well, and Liam is gradually finding his form. Overall, we have enough talent. But, of course, we always need to look around. We want to have the strongest possible lineup next year. In previous years, we invited drivers outside our pool. If we feel it’s necessary, we won’t hesitate to do so again.