P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Rumours continue to swirl over the F1 future of Max Verstappen amid suggestions he could leave Red Bull for Mercedes.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has not confirmed that Max Verstappen will be racing for the team next year. Verstappen has been rumored to be leaving Red Bull, with recent talks of a possible move to Mercedes in 2026. Verstappen himself has not explicitly stated his future plans, leading to speculation about potential performance clauses in his contract. Horner emphasized Red Bull’s intention to keep Verstappen but could not guarantee his presence in the team. The uncertainty has fueled rumors in the F1 media, including speculation about George Russell’s role in the potential driver changes. Horner suggested that Russell might have initiated the speculations to assess his own contractual standing.
