Before the summer break, Max Verstappen put an end to weeks of speculation about his future by confirming that he will remain on the Formula 1 grid in 2026 as a Red Bull Racing driver. That season will be a significant one for the Milton Keynes-based team, as it will mark its debut as an engine manufacturer, producing its own power units for the first time in partnership with Ford.
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff had previously admitted that he placed contract renewal negotiations with George Russell on hold to assess whether there might be a last-minute opportunity to sign Verstappen. With the Dutchman now officially committed to Red Bull for 2026, the expectation in the paddock is that Mercedes will soon announce Russell’s new contract.
According to former Formula 1 driver Johnny Herbert, Verstappen has been smart not to commit himself blindly to any other team. By staying with Red Bull for 2026, he will be able to evaluate the competitive order once the new regulations and engine formulas come into play, and then decide his next move if the team is not performing at the front. Herbert explained: “Verstappen has made the right move by staying at Red Bull, and in 2027 he will be able to decide whether to go to Mercedes or to Aston Martin. If I were Lawrence Stroll, I would do everything possible to convince him to race for Aston Martin, because with Verstappen, he would have the guarantee of having the best driver on the grid.”
Herbert also analysed what a potential move to Mercedes would mean for the team’s internal dynamics. “If Mercedes ends up being Verstappen’s destination, the fight for ‘survival’ within the team will be between Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and at the moment Antonelli is not convincing. We must not forget that he spent 2024 practically doing a full season of testing, and at the moment, when compared to Russell, he is coming out second best.”
Herbert’s comments underline the intense interest in Max Verstappen’s future beyond 2026, as top teams like Mercedes and Aston Martin look ahead to potential opportunities to secure the reigning world champion’s services. For now, his focus remains on Red Bull’s upcoming challenge of developing both a competitive chassis and a brand-new in-house power unit — a task that will be central to determining whether Verstappen can regain his dominance into Formula 1’s next era.
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