Verstappen remains the 'central figure' of the project at Red Bull - team principal.

      "Max was equally as frustrated as we were."

      Max Verstappen remains fully dedicated to Red Bull, despite increasing speculation regarding his future, as stated by team principal Laurent Mekies. In an interview with AFP during the Grand Prix De France Historique at Paul Ricard, Mekies dismissed the mounting rumors connecting Verstappen to Mercedes, Aston Martin, or even a surprising departure from Formula 1. "Max is central to the project," the Frenchman affirmed. "He is involved in all discussions and participates in all our strategic decisions moving forward. He remains with us regardless of what happens."

      Mekies recognized Verstappen's frustrations earlier this season, especially following Red Bull's disappointing performance at the start of the new and controversial regulations. "Verstappen was just as disappointed as we were with the car's performance during the first three Grands Prix and the initial complexity of the 2026 regulations. He was very clear about that," Mekies said. However, he noted that the situation is already improving. "We recently celebrated Max's 10 years at Red Bull Racing. As long as we continue to provide him with a competitive car, you will see Max smiling."

      "The rest is just part of the usual noise in Formula 1, which varies depending on whether it's a good or bad weekend." The speculation surrounding Verstappen arises alongside increasing attention on his growing GT and endurance racing endeavors outside Formula 1. This weekend, the Dutch driver is set to make his debut in the Nurburgring 24 Hours in a Red Bull-branded Mercedes-AMG GT3.

      This has put Ford, Red Bull’s partner for Formula 1 engines, in a tricky position. Ford Racing chief Mark Rushbrook acknowledged that the company would prefer Verstappen to race Ford vehicles instead. "Naturally, we would like our Ford drivers to stick with Ford," Rushbrook stated during the WEC 6-hour race at Spa. "We understand his choice—his passion and personality, whether in sim racing or other areas, are something we appreciate. This program is beneficial for him right now, but we would certainly love to have him in a Ford."

      He mentioned that Ford has already begun discussions about future endurance projects with Verstappen, including a potential Le Mans participation once the manufacturer returns to the Hypercar category. "We've been in talks with him for over three years. It’s just a matter of finding the right opportunity, and I believe things could align. He appears motivated and interested."

      He added, "We would love to see it happen. But for that to occur, many elements would have to align. It would certainly be incredibly exciting for us and for motorsport." Rushbrook noted that Verstappen recently had the chance to drive a Ford Mustang GTD. "Max is an outstanding driver. We enjoy collaborating in Formula 1, and we recently gave him the opportunity to test drive a Mustang GTD at Grand Sambuc," he said. "We've already had several projects with him."