Red Bull boss Oliver Mintzlaff is convinced that Max Verstappen will finish his F1 career with the team despite rumours of a move away for the F1 2027 season.<\/p>\n
And he has insisted that he is \u201cnot afraid\u201d of the four-time world champion activating a \u201cperformance clause\u201d in his contract.<\/p>\n
Red Bull boss addresses Max Verstappen future amid F1 2027 exit fears<\/p>\n
Despite being officially under contract with Red Bull until the end of the 2028 season, Verstappen was heavily linked with a move to Mercedes last summer.<\/p>\n
The talks were thrown into the public sphere by George Russell, who revealed at June\u2019s Austrian Grand Prix \u2013 Red Bull\u2019s home race \u2013 that \u201congoing\u201d negotiations between Verstappen and Mercedes were behind a delay to a decision on his own future.<\/p>\n
Verstappen eventually committed his future to Red Bull<\/a> ahead of July\u2019s Hungarian Grand Prix, with Russell going on to sign a new Mercedes deal in October.<\/p>\n Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust.<\/p>\n Although Verstappen remains under contract for the next three seasons, it was speculated at the time that a gentleman\u2019s agreement had been reached to make it easier for the Dutchman to depart Red Bull if the 2026 campaign proves a disappointment.<\/p>\n Red Bull will produce its own engines for the first time in F1 2026 via its newly established Powertrains division, working in collaboration with US manufacturer Ford.<\/p>\n Verstappen\u2019s manager, Raymond Vermeulen, said in September that 2026<\/a> will be \u201ca very important year\u201d that could \u201cdetermine where his future lies in Formula 1.\u201d<\/p>\n Mintzlaff, the chief executive of corporate projects and new investments at parent company Red Bull GmbH, has claimed that there is \u201cno doubt\u201d that Verstappen will finish his career at Red Bull.<\/p>\n Asked how Red Bull plans to keep Verstappen if the team struggles under the new regulations, Mintzlaff told Dutch outlet De Telegraaf: \u201cWhat\u2019s important to say is that I\u2019m not afraid of any performance clause in his contract.<\/p>\n \u201cThe most important thing for an athlete is that he sees that everyone in the team is giving their all for him. And I think Max is impressed with the way the results and the atmosphere in the team have turned out this year.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, Max always wants to win and have the best possible car, but so do we.<\/p>\n \u201cAs long as Max feels that we are working on that and doing everything we can, I think he will remain loyal to us.<\/p>\n \u201cHe also sees how much we have invested in our own engine.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t forget that we are an energy drink brand and what a unique step this is. I feel that there is enormous mutual appreciation and loyalty.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me, there is no doubt that Max Verstappen will end his career at Red Bull.\u201d<\/p>\n Christian Horner, the former Red Bull team principal, raised doubts over the competitiveness of the RBPT-Ford engine during his final race in charge of the team in July.<\/p>\n Speaking to PlanetF1.com and other media outlets at the British Grand Prix, Horner conceded that it would be \u201cembarrassing\u201d if Red Bull<\/a> were to produce a better engine than the established power unit manufacturers at the first time of asking in 2026.<\/p>\n Horner\u2019s comments were echoed by his successor Laurent Mekies, who conceded at the Italian Grand Prix that it \u201cwould be silly\u201d to expect the RBPT-Ford powertrain<\/a> to match the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari from the off.<\/p>\n Asked how Verstappen\u2019s situation could change if Red Bull turns out to be sixth or seventh in the pecking order next year, Mintzlaff replied: \u201cNo one knows, maybe we\u2019ll be the second or third team.<\/p>\n \u201cI know we have some extremely talented people working for us. And it\u2019s not just about the engine, but also the chassis.<\/p>\n \u201cChristian Horner has also brought a lot of good people on board in recent years, just look at the engine department.<\/p>\n \u201cThere will always be staff leaving when a competitor makes a good offer.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I also think that many people see that there is a different atmosphere here now.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd that they see Red Bull as a winning, cool team that gives talent the opportunity to develop themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n Max Verstappen and Red Bull: F1 contracts made to be broken?<\/p>\n F1 2025 driver salaries revealed: Who are the highest-paid drivers on the grid?<\/a><\/p>\n F1 driver contracts: What is the contract status of every driver on the F1 2025 grid?<\/a><\/p>\n Verstappen participated in a number of GT races at the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 2025, fulfilling a long-held ambition to try other forms of motor racing.<\/p>\n Put to him that other teams may not offer him the same freedom, giving Red Bull an advantage in its bid to retain his services, Mintzlaff said: \u201cI can\u2019t speak for other teams.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I base my opinion on what I feel and see. OK, there\u2019s a manager. OK, there\u2019s a father. And I have a good relationship with both of them.<\/p>\n \u201cBut Max is no longer 15 years old. He is old and wise enough to emphasise what he wants himself.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I talk to him, I hear that his goal is to end his career with us.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we can do is hire the right people and show him that we are working hard for him day and night and listening to his feedback to give him the best possible car.\u201d<\/p>\n Mitnzlaff went on to dismiss the suggestions that Verstappen and his camp are effectively running the show at Red Bull.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cYes, that\u2019s nonsense.<\/p>\n \u201cI can tell you that all agreements are clear and he has never made a single request to me. The same applies to his manager and father.<\/p>\n \u201cMax knows what he wants and that\u2019s fine, because he\u2019s the best driver in the world.<\/p>\n \u201cBut there\u2019s only one boss here and that\u2019s the famous can we sell.<\/p>\n \u201cMax is a great guy, not a diva. Again, I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll stay with us forever.<\/p>\n \u201cIf he ever stops racing \u2013 I hope not too soon \u2013 I hope he\u2019ll stay with us in another role.<\/p>\n \u201cHis knowledge and feel for a car are so special, and he can discuss things with his engineers at a very high level.<\/p>\n \u201cThat makes him unique.\u201d<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n