Mercedes or Red Bull? Where will Verstappen be? 'It is more likely for 2026'

During the podcast, Simon Lazenby asked Ted Kravtiz, Martin Brundle and Karun Chandhok about Verstappen's future with Red Bull Racing. He said, "Do we all agree that this leads, that it's more likely that Max, as you pointed out Martin, Max is going to stay, at least for the moment, with Red Bull and George [Russell] will be getting, come on Toto, now let's go, let's go, let's sign this."

After the question, Lazenby asked Kravtiz directly what he thought. Kravtiz replied, "Yeah, I think it is more likely, certainly for 2026."

Russell's home race came and went with no contract extension announced.

He continues, "Although we've come to that conclusion anyway, Silverstone, that certainly George is going to get another year's deal and then the Max is going to see how it works." Kravtiz then adds, "The crucial question is, what will the Red Bull Powertrains engine be like next year? Will it be good enough for Max to think, okay, I can live with this, with three times the amount of hybrid recovery and power to be used than what they have now?" 

Despite Verstappen having a contract until 2028 with Red Bull, leaving in 2027 could potentially be an option for him as well.

The Dutchman has also remained adamant that he will stay with Red Bull Racing, while Russell, on the other hand, seems confident in his contract negotiations at Mercedes. Could the Verstappen to Mercedes rumours finally die down?