Verstappen has a contract until the end of the 2028 season<\/a>, but Red Bull<\/a> know that measures exist which could see him depart far sooner.<\/p>\n The problem new team principal Laurent Mekies<\/a> faces is that Mercedes<\/a> are deliberately leaving both seats open for 2026 in case Verstappen can trigger a get-out clause in his contract<\/a>.<\/p>\n Mercedes are very keen on signing Verstappen<\/a>, with both George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli coming to the end of their current deals.<\/p>\n The Silver Arrows aren\u2019t necessarily the only team interested in the four-time drivers\u2019 champion\u2019s<\/a> services.<\/p>\n Aston Martin are still an option for Verstappen<\/a> should he inform Red Bull that their partnership is coming to an end this year.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen\u2019s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend<\/a><\/p>\n Journalist Andrew Benson was writing in his column for BBC Sport<\/a> about Verstappen\u2019s next steps.<\/p>\n The Belgian Grand Prix<\/a> is one of Verstappen\u2019s favourite tracks, but until he gets into the car for first practice on Friday, the majority of the questions he\u2019ll be facing will be about his future.<\/p>\n Benson reports that for Verstappen to join Aston Martin, \u2018an arrangement would have to be reached\u2019 to terminate Fernando Alonso\u2019s deal a year early, with Lance Stroll unlikely to be dropped by the team his father owns.<\/p>\n Alonso is excited to be working with Adrian Newey for the first time<\/a>, which means the two-time world champion is unlikely to walk away from his seat unless he\u2019s offered a \u2018very large\u2019 sum.<\/p>\n Benson goes on to say that \u2018nothing is impossible\u2019 in Formula 1, as Lewis Hamilton\u2019s move to Ferrari that was announced last year shows.<\/p>\n However, he goes on to write that Verstappen is \u2018most likely\u2019 to join Mercedes if he leaves Red Bull at the end of the year.<\/p>\n Benson continued and said that from the \u2018little bits of information\u2019 he\u2019s gathered, that at this stage, Verstappen is \u2018more likely\u2019 to stay at Red Bull than leave.<\/p>\n It wouldn\u2019t be a surprise if the upcoming double-header plays a crucial role in Verstappen\u2019s thinking.<\/p>\n READ MORE: All you need to know about Red Bull Racing from engine to Ford links<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018Obvious\u2019 Red Bull problem lowers Max Verstappen\u2019s chances of victory at Spa<\/p>\n Red Bull still have a deficit to McLaren at almost every track on the calendar, but the battle to be the best of the rest is fascinating.<\/p>\n![\"Max](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2223682519-1024x682.jpg\")
Photo by Clive Mason\/Getty ImagesRed Bull still Max Verstappen\u2019s \u2018most likely\u2019 team for the 2026 Formula 1 season<\/p>\n