Max Verstappen has a contract for Red Bull through the 2028 Formula 1 season, yet the four-time defending champion may potentially leave or even retire before then.
Question marks have hung over Verstappen since the 27-year-old signed his long-term Red Bull contract after winning his first F1 championship. They tied the Dutchman down back in March 2022 with a deal that now sees Red Bull pay Verstappen £47m a year plus bonuses.
Verstappen has even fuelled speculation over the last few years that he could retire once his Red Bull contract expires after the 2028 F1 season. The 65-time Grand Prix winner has often made it clear that he is not afraid to walk away from Formula 1 early if his motivation drops.
Aston Martin and Mercedes have frequently studied Verstappen’s future at Red Bull, too, as the Dutchman’s deal includes release clauses. Verstappen can quit Red Bull after the 2025 season, for example, if he is outside the top three in the F1 drivers’ standings in the summer.
‘More and more’ Red Bull staff believe Max Verstappen will retire after the 2026 F1 season
Aston Martin have a five-year, £1bn contract ready for Verstappen should he ever leave Red Bull and consider a move to Silverstone. That is unlikely next term, though, as Verstappen is set to stay at Red Bull in 2026 as he doubts Aston Martin’s growth with the new regulations.
But his faith in Red Bull’s engineers creating a title-winner for the 2026 F1 regulations is also not that strong. So, Bild reports ‘more and more’ people at Red Bull now believe Verstappen will retire from Formula 1 after the 2026 season as he boasts the ‘worst cards’ for next term.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about F1’s 2026 engine and chassis regulations
Verstappen’s dilemma about retiring from F1 or honouring his contract is even partly fuelled by team principal Christian Horner admitting that Red Bull would be “arrogant” to think they may have one of the best engines. Red Bull will race their own unit for the first time in 2026.
“It would be arrogant of us to believe we can immediately outperform our competitors,” the Red Bull chief told Bild. “Ferrari have been in this field for 75 years, Mercedes for around 25.
“Audi and Honda have also built some of the best engines in the world in various areas of motorsport. We have to earn our spurs first. Next year is a fresh start.”
Red Bull fear Mercedes will have the best engine for the 2026 F1 power unit regulations
Red Bull established their own power unit division after Honda initially decided to withdraw from F1, whilst securing a partnership with Ford. The American brand will offer its expertise on electronic components, while Red Bull will design their 2026 internal combustion engine.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Alpine’s 2026 Mercedes F1 engine deal
| TEAM | ENGINE |
| Red Bull | Red Bull Powertrains (in partnership with Ford) |
| Ferrari | Ferrari |
| McLaren | Mercedes |
| Mercedes | Mercedes |
| Aston Martin | Honda |
| Racing Bulls | Red Bull Powertrains (in partnership with Ford) |
| Haas | Ferrari |
| Williams | Mercedes |
| Alpine | Mercedes |
| Audi | Audi |
| Cadillac | Ferrari |
Honda would agree to return to F1 once the 2026 engine regulations were finalised, though, and will leave Red Bull for Aston Martin next year. Yet Red Bull fear Mercedes will design the best 2026 F1 rules engine and can dominate like they did with the 2014 1.6L V6 power units.
Another possible problem may come from within the ranks in Milton Keynes, as Verstappen does not trust Red Bull’s design department building their 2026 F1 rules car. He does not like how technical director Pierre Wache and his team have dealt with issues with their 2025 car.
Leave feedback about this