Christian Horner hints at the end of the 'Max Verstappen cycle' at Red Bull Racing

11:17, 05 Jul

Updated: 12:37, 05 Jul

byTim Kraaij

The hype around Max Verstappen's potential move to Mercedes grows stronger by the week, as does the Dutchman's irritation. Yet, even Christian Horner seems to be somewhat preparing for the moment when Verstappen eventually leaves Red Bull Racing.

''I have nothing to add to what I said last week.'' This was the sentence with which Verstappen opened every press conference on Thursday. Whether it was for television or the well-attended session with the written media, Verstappen was not eager to elaborate again on his future in Formula 1.

While the Formula 1 world is abuzz about the potential move to Mercedes, Verstappen himself claims not to be bothered by it. The Dutchman is primarily focused on his performance on the track. This is not good enough and needs to improve first.

However, Verstappen did not confirm that he would definitely be driving for Red Bull Racing in 2026, just like in Austria: ''The same as I said last week. That is all I want to say about it.''

Is Max Verstappen Moving to Mercedes?

That Verstappen will definitely drive for Red Bull Racing in 2026 is still uncertain. As GPblog previously reported, Verstappen is completely fed up with the internal squabbling. For a year and a half, Red Bull has been a snakes' pitt, where people are at each others' throats - with team principal Christian Horner often at the center of the controversy. There is a sense of envy for how things are done at Mercedes, where everything is completely calm and organized.

Raymond Vermeulen also spoke out about the situation Verstappen is currently in. The Dutchman's manager confirmed that there are talks with other teams and that there is no certainty that Verstappen will drive for Red Bull in 2026. The possibility of a move to Mercedes is still on the table.

On Friday, it seemed that realization had also dawned on Christian Horner. Of course, Horner emphasized that Verstappen has a contract with Red Bull Racing until 2028, but the Brit also stated that every contract contains clauses tied to the team or the driver's performance.

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max verstappen in gesprek met gianpiero lambiase

For the first time, the possible succession of Max Verstappen was also discussed. Horner initially joked that he would want Oscar Piastri, but a clear Plan B does not seem to be in place. No talks are (yet) happening with other drivers, and Horner primarily pointed to the talent within their own pool.

Yet, it seems unlikely that Red Bull Racing will be on the F1 grid with Yuki Tsunoda and Isack Hadjar or maybe even Liam Lawson in 2026. George Russell would be an obvious choice if Verstappen leaves, but those discussions are not happening at the moment.

However, Horner's most remarkable quote came at the end of the press conference on Friday. He compared Sebastian Vettel's departure with a potential departure of Max Verstappen.

Will Max Verstappen Follow in Sebastian Vettel's Footsteps?

''Sebastian left after there was a significant regulation change. Obviously 2014 and its engine, smashed all of us, and he got a dream offer from Ferrari and decided that that was his future path. I remember Dietrich Mateschitz telling me at the time, we don't need the best driver if we don't have the best car. At that stage, it was about building a team.''

''Things go in cycles and sport goes in cycles. We've had two incredibly successful cycles in Formula 1, and what we want to do is build towards the next cycle. Now, of course, we want that to be with Max, but we understand the pressure that there is next year, with us coming in as a new power unit manufacturer.''

''The challenge of that is enormous. But we've got a hugely capable group of people. We've invested significantly. We've got a great culture within the team. Who knows? To expect us to be ahead of Mercedes next year is… It would be embarrassing for Mercedes if we were, or for any manufacturer. But I think we're going to be in a competitive position, potentially even to where we are today relative to our other PU manufacturers.''

Horner and Red Bull are keen to continue with Verstappen, but they also know they are at the beginning of a new cycle. A cycle that might not be as competitive from day one as Max Verstappen would wish. Max wants to be in the best possible car, and that's still a question mark with Red Bull.

However, it must also be said that this applies to every team. No one knows for sure if the 2026 engine will be a success, and the new rules for the car must also be interpreted correctly. It's also a warning that Horner indirectly gave to Verstappen: ''There are no guarantees that jumping into a Mercedes car would automatically be a better proposition.''