Red Bull pulled off a masterstroke in 2024 that could secure Max Verstappen’s future after Christian Horner’s exit

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A crucial time of year dawns for Red Bull as the Formula 1 driver market begins to settle and drivers decide which teams to drive for in the following seasons.

Max Verstappen has been the subject of plenty of speculation recently, amid a possible move to Mercedes in the future.

However, Christian Horner’s departure might have made remaining where he is much easier. The setup may begin to lean in his direction again.

Red Bull have a stiff task heading into 2026. Not only are they going to be making their own engine from scratch, but they must find a way to build a strong enough chassis to beat their rivals again, too.

Despite continued success in the drivers’ championship, Red Bull have one issue with Verstappen, which is slightly surprising – they believe he costs too much.

Even though Mercedes want to sign Verstappen, they’d likely have to pay a princely sum for him too. He’s capable of performing miracles.

READ MORE: Red Bull now plotting ‘sensational twist’ to stop Max Verstappen joining Mercedes that Christian Horner jeopardised

Red Bull’s masterstroke Helmut Marko signing could secure Max Verstappen’s future

Mercedes are making one crucial error in their Verstappen pursuit, according to Guenther Steiner. The ex-Haas boss thinks they should pair George Russell, not Kimi Antonelli with him.

It’s still unlikely that he leaves with three and a half years left on his deal, but it would cost to buy him out of his deal without any clauses being activated.

Verstappen’s Red Bull contract is changing for 2026, and it should make it easier for both parties to split, but one thing might have changed his mind.

Horner’s exit hasn’t impacted Helmut Marko, who has incredibly close ties with the four-time champion and has a strong sense of loyalty to him. They both do to each other.

It makes the contract he signed in 2024 very valuable, as it may entice Verstappen to remain with the team as long as he is around.

Without knowing, Red Bull’s masterstroke move might have happened last year. Things can change quickly in Formula 1, though.

READ MORE: Christian Horner was forced to give up one key role by his biggest ally before Red Bull sacking

What incentive does Max Verstappen have to switch Formula 1 teams for 2026?

The track record of Formula 1 teams arriving on the grid with a competitive engine isn’t exactly strong. Think of how long it took Honda to catch the rest of the pack.

In all likelihood, these complex power units will provide a similar challenge to Cadillac and Red Bull. They don’t have the expertise or experience to match a Mercedes.

That’s one of the Silver Arrows’ main selling points. They will be somewhere near the front next year based on their engine alone. 2014 saw all cars powered by their work, including Williams and Force India, perform impressively all year.

It’s all down to how much faith Verstappen truly has in his current project. If he doesn’t believe that they can ever reach the front, then he might give up on the project before it has even started.