Red Bull warned 'nothing lasts forever' amid Verstappen F1 exit talk

Verstappen’s future in Formula 1 remains on a knife-edge following his comments over the Suzuka weekend, where he made it clear he is weighing up his next career move after repeatedly voicing strong criticism of the new regulations.

Speaking on the Up to Speed podcast, the former British driver suggested that the relationship between Verstappen and Red Bull is likely to endure, even if that does not necessarily mean the Dutchman will remain with the team as a driver in Formula 1 in the long term. He pointed to the strong bond between Verstappen, his family and Red Bull, indicating that it is not something he expects to see broken abruptly, despite the uncertainties surrounding the future.

Zak Brown has once again stood by his long-held view that Max Verstappen would most likely join Mercedes if he were to leave Red Bull Racing after the 2026 season, reaffirming a stance he had already expressed back in 2025. Speaking to Sky Sports, the McLaren CEO underlined that, from his team’s perspective, there is complete satisfaction with the current line-up, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri both tied down to long-term agreements. Brown pointed to the strength of the pairing both on and off the track, making it clear there is no intention to make any changes to the team’s driver roster.

At the same time, while acknowledging Verstappen’s exceptional talent, Brown admitted that any potential move is not something he is expecting in the near future. However, if such a scenario were to unfold, he maintained that Mercedes would remain the most likely destination, echoing the prediction he had already made a year earlier.