Max Verstappen has determined to stay with Pink Bull for now, after months of robust public hyperlinks to Mercedes, nevertheless it stays to be seen whether or not his head will likely be turned subsequent 12 months
Jos Verstappen has admitted he and his son Max mentioned the concept of quitting Pink Bull this 12 months “rather a lot”. And the Dutch former racer has additionally revealed that Mercedes weren’t the one outfit they thought-about becoming a member of.
He was most strongly linked with a transfer to the Silver Arrows for months till he confirmed final month that he’ll persist with Pink Bull for the 2026 season. However that doesn’t imply Verstappen intends to see out his full contract, which runs till 2028.
A brand new period with recent technical rules is more likely to upset the steadiness of energy on the grid, particularly as Pink Bull are constructing their very own engines for the primary time. Ought to they drop out of rivalry for race wins utterly, it appears seemingly that Verstappen will look to hitch one other group that may give him a faster automotive.
Chatting with Dutch broadcaster Viaplay, his father Jos admitted that that they had “extra” discussions than ordinary this 12 months concerning the prospect of transferring to a different group. And Mercedes weren’t the one consideration, he mentioned, as Ferrari have been additionally name-checked by the 53-year-old.
Verstappen Snr mentioned: “It’s not that we now have talked about it rather a lot simply this 12 months. This 12 months, nonetheless, slightly greater than in earlier years. So it was true, however there’s additionally loads of nonsense that goes together with the rumours. However we’re additionally speaking about Ferrari, Mercedes and Pink Bull.
“It’s logical. Max and I are discussing the attainable choices, and it’s the three massive groups, aside from McLaren, that may welcome him.”
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His feedback seem like a blow to Aston Martin, who’re additionally understood to be eager on luring the Dutchman. Bold billionaire proprietor Lawrence Stroll has already splashed out on legendary designer Adrian Newey and would like to put the four-time champion within the automobiles he creates.
Aston are more likely to make a play for Verstappen if he does change into accessible subsequent 12 months, although Jos’ suggestion that they didn’t focus on the Silverstone group as an possibility this 12 months places them at a drawback.
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It should additionally depend upon who really has an accessible house. Mercedes are going at hand contract extensions to George Russell and Kimi Antonelli this 12 months and can need to be sure that no less than a kind of offers might be damaged on the finish of the 2026 marketing campaign, in case they’ll get their fingers on the Dutchman.
If Ferrari are additionally eager, it can depend upon what the longer term holds for Lewis Hamilton. If the seven-time F1 champion sticks round past subsequent 12 months, then they too can have no room for Verstappen as Charles Leclerc has a long-term deal believed to run till 2029.
