Max Verstappen’s closest allies are now insisting he only wants one thing for the 2026 F1 season

Follow us on Google Discover

Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen faces a career-defining decision about his future very soon.

Max Verstappen appears to be almost certain to lose his grasp on the drivers’ championship this year after four consecutive title victories.

There’s no doubt that Verstappen is still the quickest driver on the Formula 1 grid right now.

However, Red Bull have failed to provide the 27-year-old with a car capable of challenging McLaren this season.

This has raised questions about whether Verstappen will see out his Red Bull contract, which runs to the end of the 2028 campaign.

However, a get-out clause in Verstappen’s contract creates a certain level of uncertainty around the Milton Keynes-based team, as without their star driver, they would currently be sitting bottom of the constructors’ championship.

Verstappen has been very coy when it comes to discussing his future in Formula 1.

Mercedes have been heavily linked with signing Verstappen, which creates a driver dilemma of their own.

Aston Martin would pay whatever it takes to hire Verstappen, but the Dutchman has ambitions that stretch beyond financial gain.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Max Verstappen insiders ‘insist’ he wants Red Bull to return to the top

A report from the Spanish outlet Marca has shared more details about Verstappen’s current ambitions.

Verstappen has repeatedly ruled out discussing his future when asked about it in press conference, neither confirming nor denying whether he would be staying at Red Bull beyond this season.

After Christian Horner was sacked by Red Bull following the British Grand Prix, Verstappen’s manager warned he could still leave the team, with nobody close to the Dutchman keen to close off any potential avenues.

However, the report from Marca suggests that ‘those close’ to Verstappen ‘insist’ that he wants to ‘return to the top’ with Red Bull and that Horner’s exit hasn’t changed anything in his mind.

The fractious relationship between Horner and the Austrian side of Red Bull’s business was more important than any ill-feeling between Verstappen’s camp and the former team principal.

Horner eventually lost the backing of the Thai side of the business, and that was another reason he was relieved of his operational duties.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Red Bull Racing from engine to Ford links

Helmut Marko sends ‘disaster’ warning to Max Verstappen ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix

There’s a good chance that Verstappen will use the upcoming summer break to determine the next step in his Formula 1 career.

It means that the double-header at the Belgian Grand Prix and Hungarian Grand Prix could prove pivotal to determining whether Verstappen will still be a Red Bull driver next season.

Helmut Marko has fired a warning at Red Bull ahead of the race at Spa, knowing how vital it might be to the Dutchman’s future.

Red Bull are expected to bring some minor updates to the race, and the effectiveness of these new parts will give Verstappen an indication of whether the team are heading in the right direction.

Verstappen has lost faith in Pierre Wache’s department, and the development of Red Bull’s cars has stuttered since the exit of Adrian Newey last year.