Max Verstappen changes tune on Mercedes move in new hint he'll quit Red Bull

Max Verstappen notably refused to commit his future to Red Bull ahead of the British Grand Prix, marking a change of tune for the four-time world champion. The Dutchman has been heavily linked with a switch to rivals Mercedes for the 2026 season, with the speculation stepping up ahead of Sunday's outing at Silverstone. Verstappen is contracted with Red Bull until the end of the 2028 campaign.

However, it has been widely reported that the reigning world champion has levers in his contract that would allow him to depart the Milton Keynes squad ahead of that deadline, provided certain performance-based conditions are met. With Red Bull's drop in performance has come renewed interest from rivals Mercedes, who are 47 points clear of Christian Horner's squad in the Constructors' Championship standings. A potential move would see either Kimi Antonelli or George Russell shunted onto the sidelines.

Previously, when quizzed about his Red Bull future, Verstappen, who is known for his straight-talking approach to the media, has been willing to nail his colours to the mast. Ahead of last year's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, for example, he said: "It's like I say... I'm good, I'm relaxed, I'm happy, and my contract is until 2028."

At Silverstone on Thursday, the Dutchman was much less clear-cut in his answers. "I do not talk about my contract," he said. "No decision has been made at the moment.

"For me, it is not about 2026 or anything. I just concentrate on what is coming and the cooperation with the team. Of course, many people come with assumptions. That certainly does not come from me. As I said last week, that's all I can say about it.

For the latest breaking stories and headlines, sign up to our Daily Express F1 newsletter, or join our WhatsApp community here.

"I don't think anyone can say with 100 per cent certainty that they will feel completely comfortable next year. There are so many unknowns for next year anyway. The only thing I can do is drive as fast as I can with what I have."

For now, Verstappen is playing the waiting game. Red Bull are introducing a new floor to the RB21 at Silverstone this weekend, and it remains the Dutchman's preference to push ahead with the team that brought him into F1 with Toro Rosso, and then delivered him four World Championships.

"I always said to the team it would be ideal, and I think they think the same way, to finish off my career in Formula One with one team," he explained. "I think that would be something amazing, and that's what we are still trying to achieve."