Hadjar remains, while Verstappen has been presented with a more lucrative offer.

      Red Bull has allegedly proposed Max Verstappen a more extensive and financially rewarding contract that would eliminate his current release clause. As reported by Bild, team principal Laurent Mekies and Red Bull sporting chief Oliver Mintzlaff aim to extend Verstappen's contract from the end of 2028 to following the 2029 season. Bild states that Verstappen's base salary, which is around 65 million euros annually, would also see an increase. "Verstappen and his management have been aware of Red Bull's offer for several weeks now," the report indicated. "There has been no official reply since then. The superstar has the advantage and is not under any time constraints." "However, the two sides are in ongoing discussions. Both Red Bull and Verstappen and his team are keen on continuing their partnership." Meanwhile, Mercedes chief Toto Wolff has suggested that there won't be an immediate opportunity for Verstappen. "We haven't made any official statements yet," Wolff told Sky Deutschland regarding the retention of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. "But it's the only logical choice at this stage." Wolff noted that Mercedes’ current challenges aren't due to its drivers. "We need to enhance the car's stability," he mentioned. "Changing drivers now wouldn’t be the right move." Nonetheless, he acknowledged that a future Verstappen-Antonelli combination is appealing. "You must allow Kimi time to grow," stated the Austrian. "Max is currently at his best. He can achieve anything. The two have respect for one another, but they belong to different generations. Having both in the same team would certainly create a different dynamic." Wolff added that he wouldn't be concerned about the potential tension from such a duo. "I've faced worse challenges with Rosberg and Hamilton," he chuckled. "Today, I would likely manage it better. But given our current situation, we are content with the synergy between Kimi and George." Despite criticizing Red Bull throughout the weekend, Verstappen finished P2 in Hungary. "Someone mentioned to me that if he's like this when unhappy with the balance, imagine how he would be when satisfied with it," Mekies smiled. "Max was candid, as he always is, but ultimately a solution was found for him to secure a podium." When questioned again about Verstappen's future, Mekies emphasized that the team's main focus is to provide him with a competitive car. "We've really covered this topic thoroughly," the Frenchman stated. "We want to return to a winning position as quickly as we can. Max desires that as well, and we aim to achieve it together. Our sole priority is to optimize the car for him. That is what truly matters to Max." Mekies also strongly suggested that Isack Hadjar will continue alongside Verstappen after finishing P6 on Sunday. "It's positive news that we finally have a strong second driver," he commented. "Isack has been performing consistently and has learned a lot from both the team and Max. We haven't discussed the future yet, but it's evident that Isack is excelling." "So, we will arrive at a logical decision." Mekies also confessed that the two Red Bull cars are not entirely the same. "The cars are very similar, but not identical," he explained.