Christian Horner , the Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing , has addressed the ongoing speculation surrounding Max Verstappen's future, particularly in relation to Mercedes.
He downplayed concerns about Mercedes' interest in signing Verstappen, emphasizing that as long as Red Bull continues to provide a competitive car, he is not worried.
Horner took a subtle dig at Mercedes and its principal, Toto Wolff, by referencing the underwhelming performance of the W15 during the recent Dutch Grand Prix.
Despite Wolff's persistent pursuit of Verstappen since Lewis Hamilton announced his move to Ferrari for 2025, Verstappen has shown no inclination to switch teams.
Wolff's strategy even involved delaying a decision with Ferrari's Carlos Sainz while waiting for Verstappen's response. Ultimately, Sainz opted for a contract with Williams, while Mercedes secured junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli for the upcoming season.
He told the media at Zandvoort:
"What I like with Max, Raymond, and Jos is that we talk straight. We don't need to push each other. We have been in this too long; we've taken the decision for drivers for next year. This is what our full effort is going into.
"Hopefully that's going to be the line-up for 2026 and beyond. But that doesn't close the door on Max being with us in 2026 or beyond, because we want to still keep all the options open in the same way he does. So what I enjoyed in our conversations is there is never a hidden agenda.
"Somehow I have that feeling [that Mercedes and Verstappen will eventually join forces]. But I don't know when that could be. Whether it's '26, whether it's three years' later, I don't know yet.”
Verstappen is currently contracted with Red Bull until 2028 and has been dominant in recent seasons, while Mercedes has struggled to keep pace.
Although Mercedes has made strides this season, securing three wins, Horner pointed out their significant gap to Verstappen, who finished second in the Dutch GP, a full 22 seconds ahead of George Russell, who placed seventh.
Horner acknowledged the challenges Red Bull faces with its current car but reiterated that Verstappen's potential move to Mercedes is not a concern for him. He emphasized the importance of delivering a fast car to keep Verstappen satisfied.
He told the media :
“Well, it’s down to us to deliver. We have an agreement until 2028.
“So it’s down to us to deliver. I didn’t see Toto’s car performing that well today.”
When asked about any performance clauses in Verstappen's contract, Horner noted that while 2028 is still a long way off, the team's focus remains on providing a competitive vehicle.
He underscored the need to maintain a strong performance to ensure Verstappen's continued commitment to Red Bull.
“Look, ’28 is a long way away.
“It’s down to us to provide a race-winning car. Will you be here in ’28?
“You know. 2025… every contract has a performance element in it.“We’re not going to talk about what those elements are, but as long as we provide a competitive car, we know what the situation is.”
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