Max Verstappen has described Red Bull as his “second family”, playing down speculation about his Formula 1 future and a possible move to Mercedes. Despite his outspoken criticism during recent Grands Prix, the four-time world champion now appears increasingly likely to remain with the team for at least another season.
The comments represent a notable change of tone as Red Bull attempts to strengthen its relationship with its leading driver. Although there is still no suggestion of a signed contract extension, Max Verstappen’s words indicate that the two sides may be moving closer together following recent public support from team principal Laurent Mekies.
A quieter Formula 1 driver market than expected
Formula 1’s summer break has just begun, officially bringing the driver-market silly season into focus. This year, however, the speculation has been noticeably more subdued than in 2025, when relatively little ultimately changed among the leading teams despite months of rumours.
Even the holiday photographs of Max Verstappen and Toto Wolff in Sardinia failed to ignite the market fully. Although the Dutch driver has occasionally delivered stinging criticism of Red Bull, he appears destined to stay for at least one more year.
Mercedes, meanwhile, remains committed to Kimi Antonelli, the young driver it considers one of Formula 1’s brightest prospects. The team has indicated that it intends to retain its current pairing of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell for 2027, reducing the likelihood of an immediate opening for Max Verstappen.
That commitment comes as Mercedes continues to manage an important stage in Kimi Antonelli’s development, including the difficult Monza decision outlined by Toto Wolff. George Russell’s longer-term position has also attracted attention amid questions about whether he risks taking on a role similar to Valtteri Bottas’s former position at Mercedes.
Max Verstappen’s Red Bull future appears more secure
Max Verstappen himself has also softened his tone towards Red Bull. His comments could suggest a willingness to respond positively to the efforts of senior executives Mark Mateschitz and Oliver Mintzlaff, following the warm words Laurent Mekies recently offered about the reigning Red Bull leader.
A formal contract extension is not yet being discussed publicly, but the impression is that the relationship between Max Verstappen and the team is improving. That was particularly evident in an interview the four-time Formula 1 world champion gave to RacingNews365 during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend in Budapest.
Max Verstappen describes Red Bull as his ‘second family’
“For me, this team is a little like my second family,” Max Verstappen explained. “We have experienced so many extraordinary things together. There have been fantastic moments, but obviously also difficult periods, which are probably a little more challenging now.”
“This year started in quite a difficult way, but now we are in a phase of growth. Of course, some people have left over the past few years, but there are also others joining us.”
The latest arrival is Gwen Lagrue, who is moving from Mercedes and is regarded as a specialist in managing young-driver academies. His appointment comes as Red Bull continues assessing the development of its emerging talent, including Isack Hadjar’s progress at the summer break.
“People always like to focus on the negative aspects, and whenever someone leaves, it is always made to look like a dramatic event,” Max Verstappen continued. “Of course, sometimes you think, ‘I wish certain people had stayed,’ but that is how life goes, and you see the same thing in other sports.”
Why successful Formula 1 teams inevitably lose personnel
Max Verstappen believes retaining a highly successful group is especially difficult because rival teams naturally attempt to recruit its most talented members. He compared the process to football, where leading players routinely attract interest from competing clubs.
“It is even more difficult to keep a very successful group together because these are people other teams also try to hire in order to secure their talent,” the Red Bull driver said. “It is the same in football: when you see a great player, another club wants him and will do everything possible to get him. So it is not unusual.”
“I have the impression that people sometimes reacted a little dramatically, perhaps too much, as though it only happened to us. People come and go all the time. It is simply part of sport.”
Despite the changes within Red Bull, Max Verstappen insisted that his personal approach inside the organisation has remained consistent. His direct communication style has helped him establish close relationships with many members of the team during their years together.
“Within the team, I am simply myself,” Max Verstappen concluded. “Over the years, I have built an excellent relationship with many people, and I say things as they are. I am very straightforward because that is how I like to operate, and they are the same with me.”
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