Max Verstappen admits Red Bull exit could happen in 2026 after talks with rival F1 team
Max Verstappen has admitted "there were talks" with another team earlier this year as he pondered his Red Bull future. The Dutchman was most strongly linked with a move to Mercedes but, eventually, opted to remain where he is and see where the chips fall next season when new technical rules which could change the face of the Formula 1 grid come into force.
Mercedes' interest in Verstappen was well-known with team principal Toto Wolff open about his desire to convince the four-time champion to join the Silver Arrows. And, in a new interview with BBC Sport
He said: "I'm not going to lie. For sure, there were talks. But at the same time, it was all very friendly and open. Nothing more than that." After Verstappen decided to stay with Red Bull, Mercedes accelerated contract renewal talks with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, eventually tying both down to new deals which confirm their places on the 2026 grid.
But there is no guarantee that Verstappen will make the same decision next year. Red Bull expect to have a slow start to the new campaign, given they are designing and building their own F1 engines for the first time alongside technical partner Ford, and it is thought that the Dutchman could consider quitting if he is not in title contention.
The Dutchman has admitted that is a possibility, though he insists there is a lot more to think about than just which team can give him the fastest car. He explained: "For me, it's not only about F1. There's a lot of things that have to come together for me to make a change. Future roles, stuff like that.
"So if I ever would make a change, of course, it's a big one for me because this definitely feels like a second family and that's not easy to replicate. The change, if I would ever make one, it's not only because I need a faster F1 car or I need a difference in the environment. There's a lot of things that are around my F1 career and things that I'm doing outside of F1 that all have to come together."
Verstappen could seal a fifth consecutive drivers' title if he can overcome the 12-point deficit he has to championship leader Lando Norris in Abu Dhabi this weekend. As much as he would love to achieve that, he is adamant that he won't lose a wink of sleep if the outcome does not go his way.
He said: "I'm not going to be crying in a corner. It doesn't matter if we finish first, second, or third. I know that I had a really good season and that's fine. I know that, in general, we have not been the quickest team.
"Already being in this fight is a bonus. Even if then we don't win it, it's not going to be stinging. Because I know where we lost it and I know that in general we have not been the quickest team."