Regardless, Verstappen hinted at Spa that he is likely to stay at Red Bull for 2026, despite the team’s underperformance this season. As a result, George Russell looks set to stay at Mercedes for at least the 2026 season, with talks expected to get underway shortly.

Max Verstappen, after months of speculation, has reportedly decided where his racing future lies and has come to a firm decision.

Moreover, team principal Christian Horner was dismissed from his role by Red Bull, though Verstappen has since said his exit will not have any bearing on his own future. Throughout the entire saga, it has been known that there is a performance-related release clause in Verstappen’s contract which runs until 2028.