Jos Verstappen clear on Max’s future: “If Red Bull stays at the top, Max will stay”. The father of the four-time world champion spoke about Max Verstappen's future with Red Bull.

A Secure Future, But…
Throughout the season that led him to secure his fourth career world title, Max Verstappen has been the subject of numerous market rumors. The chaos that affected Red Bull early in the year and the performance drop of the RB20 in the second half of the season fueled Mercedes’s interest. Toto Wolff was keen on dressing the Dutch star in silver, but Verstappen remained committed to his contract with Red Bull, which runs through the end of 2028.

The Hasselt-born champion has always been vocal about his loyalty to Red Bull, seeing himself with the Milton Keynes team at least until his contract ends. However, he and his camp have repeatedly emphasized their desire to always have a competitive car. It’s no surprise, then, that the decline in performance of this year’s car raises some concerns about the future, especially with the regulatory overhaul coming in 2026.

Performance is the Priority
Giving voice to these concerns was Jos Verstappen, Max’s father, during an interview with the Dutch site *Formule1.nl*: “Will Max stay? It largely depends on what happens here at Red Bull. If next year they get things right and we’re able to compete at the top, then Max will stay.” The underlying message is clear: if not, the Orange Army’s idol might look elsewhere.

The 2026 Formula 1 season, with Red Bull’s first fully in-house power unit, remains an even bigger unknown: “The Red Bull power unit? I don’t know much about it. The program is on schedule,” Jos Verstappen said, “but no one knows how good the engine and car will be in 2026. That will only be revealed when they’re actually on track.”