Ford make F1 future declaration over Max Verstappen uncertainty

Ford boss Mark Rushbrook has asserted that the American manufacturer’s position in F1 will not be impacted by Max Verstappen’s decisions regarding his future.

Verstappen's F1 stay has been called into question after the Dutchman raised concerns over the direction of the sport.

The four-time champion has been particularly unhappy with the new-for-2026 cars and the latest technical regulations.

The rule change coincides with Ford’s entry into F1 in partnership with Red Bull, with the company making clear it will not be swayed by the decisions of any single individual.

“We came to Formula 1 to be in Formula 1 and we chose Red Bull because of who they are as a team, as a culture, not any single individual,” Rushbrook told motorsport.com.

“And again, we love Max, we love the fact that he's racing in a Red Bull Ford powered vehicle. 

“We would hate to see him leave, but that wouldn't change our commitment to the sport.”

Red Bull has been hit with a series of exits in recent times, including Christian Horner, Helmut Marko, Adrian Newey, and Jonathan Wheatley, before Gianpiero Lambiase became the latest figure to confirm his exit.

Addressing the departures, Rushbrook stated: “There's always some concern when you see somebody leaving. 

“'Why are they leaving? What does it actually mean to the team?'.

“So it's not that it's not important, but you react to those things, just like anything else in racing, or even in life. When things happen, it's all about how you react to them and stay strong.”