Verstappen reveals factors that will dictate Red Bull future

Max Verstappen has shed light on the factors that will determine his future in F1, revealing some of the questions he will ask himself when accessing his next steps.

That decision will not be made on emotion, according to the three-time drivers' champion, who was quick to emphasise the loyalty he has to his current employer. It is something he highlights he has found in return.

The 26-year-old is contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2028, but has been at the centre of F1 driver market speculation this season amidst rumours of his increasing dissatisfaction at the Milton Keynes-based team and concerns over its long-term prospects.

With Lewis Hamilton's impending Ferrari move leaving a seat vacant at Mercedes, Toto Wolff has seized the opportunity to make his desire to have Verstappen race for him clear.

The Austrian narrowly missed out on the Dutchman a decade ago and believes it is a relationship that "needs to happen at a certain stage".

However, Verstappen insists he is not "too stressed" or "too worried" when it comes to making decisions regarding his future, be it at Red Bull or elsewhere.

"I think, first of all, not [to] make a decision on emotion. I think that can always backfire,"

Asked by Formula.hu as to what factors go into making a good decision, he replied: "First of all, not [to] make a decision on emotion. I think that can always backfire. I'm also quite a patient person. I'm not too stressed, too worried about things. 

"Of course, I have a very long relationship with the team [Red Bull], which I value a lot. Loyalty is very important, which you don't always find in Formula 1. That's just how it goes.

"But luckily, I found that, and I think it goes both ways, team and me, and that's very important."

'You have to be realistic...'

Verstappen looks set to stay with Red Bull next season, and Mercedes is edging closer to confirming Andrea Kimi Antonelli as George Russell's team-mate.

However, that does not mean the 61-time grand prix winner will consider all factors and remain "in the middle" when deciding upon his future.

There has been talk of worry within the Verstappen camp over Red Bull's power unit project, which will see the team bring manufacturing in-house for the first time.

The suggestion is that there is concern over the reigning constructors' champion's ability to produce a competitive engine come 2026, when F1's power unit regulations are overhauled. However, team principal Christian Horner has repeatedly stated Red Bull Power Trains (RBPT) is hitting its internal targets.

The team has also lost two key, long-standing personnel in recent months. First, Adrian Newey announced his departure from the team. 

Then, just ahead of the summer break, sporting director Jonathan Wheatley's exit was confirmed as he heads to Audi. Both men have been with Red Bull for nearly two decades.

Verstappen did not shy away from highlighting both the power unit project and the ability to retain important figures within Red Bull when discussing which factors he will personally weigh up.

"The key people, are they staying with the team? We have our own engine project, how is that going?" he said.

"I have a lot of faith in it, but you have to be realistic. You're fighting against people who have been building engines for 100-plus years, they have a lot of experience. Of course, we hired a lot of people.

"But I prefer to be in the middle. I don't want to be overly positive, I don't want to be overly negative. I just stay in the middle, and you just have to be patient.

"It's a lot of things that have to stay together, or come together, for me to weigh up the future, not only '26 but like beyond and that's fine, I'm patient."