Max Verstappen is set to stay with Red Bull for next year and has a contract until 2028, but still rumours persist that the Dutchman could jump hip if he becomes unhappy
Eddie Jordan believes Max Verstappen could still quit Red Bull in order to join rivals Mercedes when new Formula 1 regulations come into force.
For much of the year, against the backdrop of civil war among Red Bull chiefs, Verstappen has been linked with a move away from the F1 champions. He was most strongly linked with Mercedes, whose boss Toto Wolff gladly took the opportunity to try and publicly woo the Dutchman.
In the end, it did not work: while his father Jos has publicly slammed boss Christian Horner, the younger Verstappen sees no reason to leave any time soon and plans to stay where he is for next season.
Notably, though, the triple champion has avoided making any concrete long-term commitments to the team. And all eyes are on what he might do in 2026, when new F1 engine regulations come into force.
For the first time, Red Bull are building their own power units and, although they have recruited some fine minds from up and down the pit lane, there is understandably some nervousness about whether they will get it right first time. And that may prove to be Mercedes’ biggest weapon in the bid to lure him to Brackley.
The Silver Arrows were streets ahead of all their rivals after the last big engine changes in 2014 and others spent a long time closing that performance gap. It began a streak of eight consecutive constructors’ title wins and they hope to be able to get a jump on the other teams again this time around.
Should they do so, all Mercedes-powered teams will become much more attractive to drivers and Verstappen could be tempted to quit Red Bull if their engines aren’t up to scratch. And former F1 team owner Jordan ‘s contacts have been telling him that it is a realistic outcome.
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