Max Verstappen fires Red Bull warning: 'Next races important for my future'

Max Verstappen has declared the upcoming F1 races will be crucial for his future with Red Bull.

The Dutchman has long been linked with an exit from the Milton Keynes-based squad, with the rumours accelerated by intra-team political concerns in 2024 and a slump back in the pecking order.

Red Bull has been unable to consistently challenge rivals McLaren at the start of the current season, with Verstappen winning once in the first six grands prix.

Next year, F1 will undergo a major change with new technical regulations threatening to shake up the pecking order - a situation Verstappen is all too aware of. 

"It's a bit difficult to estimate,” the four-time champion told De Telegraaf. 

“Next year everything will be new in the sport again. And everyone can say that they know who has the best credentials, but nobody knows for sure. 

“The only team that has it best at the moment is McLaren. The cars and engines will change next year, but if you keep such an advantage with the tyres, then that is significant and then it will be the same next year.”

A move to McLaren is off the cards as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are tied down on long-term contracts.

Verstappen penned a huge extension with Red Bull a number of years ago, a deal that runs until 2028 - but murmurings about performance clauses have placed the true length of his Red Bull stay in doubt.

“I always think and have thought about my future,” Verstappen added. 

“Even in the good years. On the other hand, I think I am quite calm about it at the moment.”

Max Verstappen offers clue over F1 future

Red Bull is entering a new era next year as it runs its own power unit for the first time, working in tandem with Ford at the start of the new technical regulations.

When asked if he still desires to continue with Red Bull in 2026 as it takes on a new challenge, Verstappen replied: “I've always said that to the team. 

“That's the intention. Unless things go really strangely. But that [a departure] is not my intention at the moment."

However, Verstappen did not eliminate all concerns that he could opt to walk away from the Milton Keynes-based squad as he highlighted the upcoming rounds will be crucial to his decision.

“I want to see how the rest of the season, or at least part of it, goes,” he said. “Big, decent steps can be taken by the team. The upcoming races are very important, also for my future. 

“I'm not even talking about next year, but in general. I think everyone in the team realises that.

"You know what the problem is: if you could really choose and look purely at performance, you could change teams almost every season. But of course you can't.”