"If my boat is next to Toto's then the boat is next to Toto's", Verstappen addresses his future plans
Ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, reigning champion Max Verstappen has reveal during the media day at the Hungaroring that he will remain with his current team, Red Bull for the 2026 F1 season.
Despite being under contract with Red Bull until the end of the 2028 season, Max Verstappen's future has looked to hang in balance. The reigning champion has been heavily linked with a move to Mercedes for next season over recent weeks, but a move to Aston Martin has also been mentioned several times.
It had been believed that the reigning four-time World Champion would be free to activate an exit clause if he is lower than fourth in the Drivers’ standings following this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix. However, the Dutchman stayed third after the Belgian Grand Prix which meant that he was unable to activate his exit clause.
The four-time F1 champion has now dismissed the suggestions and confirmed he would be staying put with Red Bull for the coming Formula One season.
"The thing is, people are waffling so much throughout the whole season while the only one that actually can or should speak is not speaking. That's me, and I do that on purpose because it makes no sense to start throwing things around and actually that should be the same for everyone.
"Some people just like to stir the pot, some people just like to create drama but for me it's always been quite clear and also for next year.
"I'm discussing with the team already the plans, the things that we want to change next year so that means I'm also staying with the team for next year and if my boat is next to Toto's then the boat is next to Toto's.
"You can have a personal relationship with someone even if you don't have a working relationship with someone. I think it's time to basically stop all the rumours, and for me it's always been quite clear that I was staying anyway."
Red Bull have recently made key changes to their management, replacing former team boss Christian Horner with Laurent Mekies. Speaking of the Frenchman's integration into the Milton Keynes-based outfit, Verstappen was left to praise Mekies' attitude.
"We discuss about a lot of things to be honest. He's very friendly, he's very open, very motivated, very driven. That's of course what you want to see from a boss and I like it. It's a nice atmosphere that he is creating and I'm very excited for the future, what we can do together.
"Of course, for this year the amount of influence with the car is difficult. You jump in the middle of the season but of course for the future, you have a lot more say and influence on that. He's asking, for me at least, the right questions and ideas. I like it."
