Verstappen reportedly not pledging to a future with Red Bull.

      Max Verstappen has reportedly not given Red Bull confirmation that he plans to stay with the team until the conclusion of his contract. This latest development follows a meeting in Salzburg with Red Bull's key executives, including co-owner Chalerm Yoovidhya and chief executive Oliver Mintzlaff. When questioned in Barcelona about the meeting, Verstappen declined to provide details, stating, "It’s no one’s business. It was planned anyway. It’s not like it just popped up suddenly after Monaco."

      However, De Telegraaf journalist Erik van Haren noted that the meeting did not yield the reassurance that Red Bull's management had hoped for. "The ideal situation for Red Bull management right now would be for Max Verstappen to say, 'I’m staying,'" van Haren explained. "That would bring peace, allowing the team to attract new staff and making it more appealing for sponsors. Verstappen is the key figure at Red Bull - he essentially carries the team."

      The speculation arises as Red Bull struggles to keep pace with Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren in 2026. Following the race in Barcelona, Verstappen openly characterized Red Bull as merely the fourth-best team, with van Haren suggesting the Spanish GP revealed weaknesses across the board. "After the weekend, he seemed a bit resigned," he said. "It was a significant test, as Barcelona is an all-round circuit. They were too slow in every type of corner."

      Much of the uncertainty revolves around Verstappen's known exit clauses. "Verstappen can really activate it for the first time this year," van Haren mentioned. "There will be a decisive moment during the summer break. He is currently seventh in the championship, and I don’t expect he’ll suddenly rise to second." "In the coming weeks, Verstappen will start to question this. Naturally, there must also be a potential alternative."

      Most notably, van Haren claims that Verstappen has not privately assured Red Bull officials of his commitment. "He has not internally indicated that he is guaranteed to stay." "Austria is going to be a very important weekend," the Dutch journalist emphasized. "They want to reduce the car's weight, which will be crucial."

      Former F1 driver Robert Doornbos believes the entire driver market is essentially waiting for Verstappen's decision on his next move, with Mercedes being the most likely alternative. "At Mercedes, both drivers have a one-year contract," Doornbos stated on the Pit Talk podcast. "May the best win. I’m not sure if there’s still room for another driver given Max’s situation. The next few months will be quite interesting."

      Another former Dutch F1 driver has a different perspective. "Where could he go? He can basically go anywhere," Christijan Albers told De Telegraaf. "Jos Verstappen may not agree with me, but if I were Max, I would stay at Red Bull for another year and then go to Ferrari in 2028, following in the footsteps of Michael Schumacher, the greatest."