Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner believes Max Verstappen’s decision to stay at Red Bull is a calculation about the future, leaving open the possibility of changing teams at the end of 2026.
According to Steiner, this option gives the Dutch driver maximum freedom: if Red Bull remains competitive, he can keep fighting for titles in a familiar environment. However, if results decline, he can choose a more promising alternative.
Steiner named Mercedes as one of those possible directions, noting that if the team performs well starting in 2026, they could offer Verstappen a multi-year contract. He added that right now a long-term move would look riskier.
Max Verstappen is third in the drivers’ standings with 187 points after the Hungarian Grand Prix. Red Bull sits fourth in the Constructors’ Championship with 194 points. The Dutch driver has been Formula 1 world champion four times, in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
