Max Verstappen makes firm declaration over Red Bull F1 future

Max Verstappen has asserted he has no desire to depart Red Bull for a rival team before his contract expires in 2028.

Following his maiden F1 championship success in 2021, Verstappen penned a long-term deal with the Milton Keynes-based squad.

However, rumours of performance clauses have kept his Red Bull future in doubt - particularly last year when the RB21 slumped down the pecking order midway through the campaign.

The 28-year-old has been linked with a switch to Mercedes or Aston Martin - but speaking to Blick, Verstappen asserted he wishes to honour the terms of his contract.

“I'm 28 now and I have a contract with Red Bull until 2028,” Verstappen said.

“I want to fulfil that contract. At this point in time, I'm ruling out a change of team. 

“It's a shame that I won't have my friend and mentor Helmut Marko by my side in 2026. I'll miss him.”

Marko's departure came at the end of the 2025 season, yet another change at the senior Red Bull level in recent times following exits from team boss Christian Horner and technical chief Adrian Newey.

A dramatic season for Red Bull last year saw it recover form in the second half of the year, allowing Verstappen to make a late surge for a fifth F1 title.

However, he narrowly missed out by just two points as Lando Norris sealed his first championship for McLaren.

When asked if he was proud of how Red Bull rediscovered its form so late in the year, Verstappen replied: “Yes. 

“Because in the midst of the turmoil surrounding the change of team boss, no one would have believed we could do it. Before this final sprint, we were still 104 points behind.”