Max Verstappen has confirmed he’ll race for Purple Bull in 2026, saying “it’s time to principally cease all of the rumors” about him probably leaving on the finish of the season.
The defending champion had been linked with a transfer to Mercedes and had held discussions with Toto Wolff to know potential future choices, however stays beneath contract at Purple Bull till 2028. His present deal consists of performance-related clauses which can be believed to focus round this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, and Verstappen is assured to stay within the high three within the drivers’ championship no matter the place he finishes on Sunday.
“It is fairly attention-grabbing to comply with all (the rumors) and the quantity of good tales that got here out of it,” Verstappen mentioned. “However yeah, for me, I’ve by no means actually mentioned something about it as a result of I used to be simply targeted on speaking to the workforce about how we will enhance our efficiency, future concepts for subsequent 12 months as nicely. And that is why I had nothing actually so as to add, ever.
“However I believe it is time to principally cease all of the rumors. And for me, it is all the time been fairly clear that I used to be staying anyway.
“I believe that was additionally the final feeling within the workforce, as a result of we had been all the time in discussions about what we may do with the automotive. And I believe once you’re not excited about staying, then you definitely cease speaking about these sorts of issues. And I by no means did.”
Provided that his contract runs till 2028, Verstappen mentioned he doesn’t know if he might want to affirm his future annually, however that he received’t focus on any additional performance-related clauses.
“In case you ask me that query subsequent 12 months, then sure, we could have that hypothesis!,” he mentioned. “However for me, I by no means talk about it, as a result of I am extra excited about simply engaged on the efficiency of issues. That is why I additionally by no means actually speak about what’s in my contract.”
Affirmation from Verstappen that he’ll race for Purple Bull subsequent season comes shortly after Laurent Mekies changed Christian Horner as workforce principal, and the four-time world champion mentioned that Mekies affords an opportunity for a change in course that might present leads to future years.
“Completely, that’s all the time the case,” he mentioned. “After all, it is nonetheless very early days, however I do like how Laurent is working. Very motivated, continually asking the suitable inquiries to me, but additionally to the workforce. It is good to see.
“This 12 months it’s extremely troublesome to see any form of profit from that, however I hope within the coming 12 months, two years, that we will actually see his contact to the workforce. I am very excited for that.”
Verstappen is hopeful that his feedback will assist Purple Bull to proceed to concentrate on looking for extra efficiency with its present automotive, with the intention of studying that may profit the workforce in future.
“No-one actually is aware of for subsequent 12 months the place they are going to be at,” he mentioned. “And for us this 12 months, realistically, it’ll be very troublesome, in fact, to combat McLaren. It is already troublesome sufficient to combat with Ferrari and Mercedes.
“However there’s nonetheless a whole lot of alternative to study extra in regards to the automotive, and the conduct of the automotive. As a result of I do know that the vehicles will probably be completely different subsequent 12 months, [but] there are nonetheless issues that you could take out of this 12 months and in addition implement for subsequent 12 months.”
