As the 2025 British Grand Prix weekend gets underway, the future of Max Verstappen remains one of hottest talking points in F1.
Despite intense speculation linking the four-time world champion with a move away from Red Bull, Verstappen made it clear in Silverstone that he is not considering a sabbatical from the sport—even as other teams, including Mercedes, explore their options for 2026 and beyond.
Verstappen’s name has dominated the rumour mill for over a year, but the debate reached new heights following suggestions that Mercedes had made a significant approach for the Dutchman from 2026. Although Verstappen’s contract with Red Bull runs until the end of 2028, there are believed to be performance-related clauses that could open the door for an early exit should the team’s competitiveness wane.
When pressed on his situation in Thursday’s media rounds at Silverstone, Verstappen was as guarded as ever, declaring, “nothing has changed” regarding his position for F1 2026.
He made it clear to journalists that he would not be answering any more questions about his plans for the new regulations era, later joking to Dutch broadcaster Viaplay, “Well, they all got very short answers, so that was perfect actually.”
No break from F1 as Verstappen targets new challenges
While his future with Red Bull remains subject to ongoing speculation, Verstappen did take the opportunity to address another theory—that he could step away from Formula 1 for a year to explore other forms of racing. The reigning champion left no room for doubt.
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“No, [I will race in] F1 for sure,” Verstappen said. “I’ll try in the future [to] combine it with any kind of other racing that is possible [and] what I can prepare for, because I do want to explore a bit out of Formula 1, which I’m already doing with testing but eventually also racing.”
Asked directly if he would be taking a sabbatical from F1, Verstappen replied: “No, for sure [I won’t be leaving F1].”
His growing passion for sportscar competition has been evident this year, with successful GT3 test outings at both the Nurburgring Nordschleife and Spa-Francorchamps, and his own GT3 team recently claimed class honours at the Spa 24 Hours. Even so, Verstappen insisted any sportscar ambitions will remain strictly in addition to his Formula 1 commitments for the foreseeable future.
2026 remains uncertain, but Verstappen’s focus stays sharp
Despite interest from rival teams and changing regulations on the horizon, Verstappen continues to see his future with Red Bull, at least until the new technical era settles.
“That’s right. That’s why I’m contracted to Red Bull,” Verstappen said. “I think no one can say 100 percent sure that they will be pretty comfortable next year. There will be so many unknowns anyway for next year. And the only thing that I have to do is drive whatever I have fast.”
Reflecting on the unpredictable nature of Formula 1, Verstappen pointed to McLaren’s rapid rise under the current rules and Red Bull’s own early struggles before their recent dominance.
“Now it was the opposite for us,” Verstappen said. “We did everything really well from the start of the new regulations and then towards the end, it was a bit of a struggle. That is something that we have to figure out, why we didn’t hit the same kind of progression as maybe some other teams. But then again, 2026 is completely different and something completely different that you need from a car.”
For now, fans and teams alike can breathe easier, Max Verstappen has no plans to leave the Formula 1 grid or take a sabbatical, even as the chessboard of 2026 begins to take shape.
