P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen is going nowhere for 2026, with the rumours of him having met Toto Wolff in Sardinia having been criticised by Martin Brundle.
Former F1 driver Martin Brundle defended Max Verstappen’s decision to stay with Red Bull next season, calling it the right choice and criticizing the “clickbait” rumors. Verstappen confirmed this during the media day before the Hungarian Grand Prix. Despite being heavily linked to Mercedes, a contract exit clause for the summer became void as Verstappen needed to finish the break no lower than third in the standings. Rumors circulated about meetings between Verstappen, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, and George Russell, but were dismissed as clickbait by Brundle. Brundle emphasized that if they wanted to meet, it could have easily happened in Monaco, where they both reside. He supported Verstappen’s decision, noting that Red Bull would not make the move without ensuring Max’s commitment and suggesting that Max would now assess the situation before making further decisions.
