Max Verstappen Given Major Warning Over F1 Future as Red Bull Exit Speculation Grows

Max Verstappen Given Major Warning Over F1 Future as Red Bull Exit Speculation Grows

Max Verstappen’s future with Red Bull has come under renewed scrutiny after former Formula 1 driver Thierry Boutsen highlighted one factor he believes could play a decisive role in the reigning world champion’s next career move.

Verstappen is currently contracted to Red Bull through the end of the 2028 Formula 1 season. However, performance-related clauses in his agreement have reportedly fueled speculation that he could potentially leave the team as early as the end of 2026.

McLaren has been widely linked with Verstappen as a possible destination, although no move has been confirmed. Mercedes has also been mentioned in discussions surrounding the Dutch driver, but team principal Toto Wolff has made clear that the team is committed to its current driver pairing of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.

“The Max to Mercedes thing for now is not on,” Wolff has said.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has also played down the possibility of Verstappen joining his team, joking that the four-time world champion would have to “wait for the FIA to introduce a third car” because McLaren is happy with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

Verstappen himself has repeatedly dismissed speculation about his future. Ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, he said: “There’s nothing to say. I said already many times that if there was something new, I would say it myself.”

Boutsen, who competed in Formula 1 from 1983 to 1993 and won three grands prix, believes Verstappen must consider more than simply the competitive strength of another team.

“It’s very difficult to say,” Boutsen told Formula 1’s official website. “It’s maybe a good moment to move, but maybe it’s a bad moment to move. It’s his decision, how he feels. The way you feel inside the team is very important.”

The former driver also questioned whether Verstappen could immediately find the same level of comfort and support elsewhere that he has experienced at Red Bull.

“Moving to a new team, for sure, he will feel good; he will have the support of the team,” Boutsen said. “But how long is that going to last? Is that going to last as long as it lasted with Red Bull? I don’t know.”

Verstappen’s situation has become particularly interesting because Red Bull has struggled to produce its usual level of dominance during the 2026 campaign.

After 11 rounds, Verstappen sits sixth in the drivers’ championship with 109 points. His best results so far have been second-place finishes in Austria and Hungary, while three retirements have further damaged his title hopes.

Neither Verstappen nor Red Bull has won a race during the season so far. If that continues, Red Bull could experience its first winless season since 2015, while Verstappen would record his first winless campaign with the team.

Despite the difficult season, Boutsen believes Verstappen is not necessarily far away from returning to the front.

“I cannot advise him; he does what he wants to do,” Boutsen said. “I’d like to see what he does. It will be very interesting for himself, for the rest of F1, and for the rest of the world, I would say.”

Boutsen also pointed to Verstappen’s recent history with Red Bull as evidence that the relationship remains valuable.

“He’s always been in a good position there, and he’s been winning races,” Boutsen said. “He almost won the championship last year, and if he didn’t have the problems in Austria and Britain [this season], it would look much different. So, he’s not far off.”

With the 2026 season entering its second half, Verstappen faces a significant decision about his long-term future. His contract provides stability, but the reported performance clauses and Red Bull’s current struggles could make the coming months crucial.

For now, however, Verstappen has given no indication that he is preparing to leave Red Bull. His own message remains consistent: if his situation changes, he intends to be the person who announces it.

Analysis: Max Verstappen’s Red Bull Future Could Depend on One Crucial Question

Max Verstappen’s future at Red Bull has become one of the biggest questions surrounding Formula 1 as the 2026 season reaches its second half. The latest comments from former F1 winner Thierry Boutsen are significant because they move the discussion beyond simple questions about which team has the fastest car. For Verstappen, the decision could ultimately come down to whether he still feels comfortable, trusted and confident within Red Bull.

Boutsen described feeling comfortable inside a team as “very important,” and that observation provides an interesting perspective on Verstappen’s situation. The Dutchman has spent years building a successful relationship with Red Bull. Together, they have won races and championships, and Verstappen has become the central figure of the team. Leaving would therefore represent a major career decision rather than an ordinary driver transfer.

The biggest argument for considering a move is Red Bull’s current performance. After 11 rounds, Verstappen is sixth in the championship with 109 points and has yet to win a race this season. His best results have been second places in Austria and Hungary, while three retirements have further damaged his campaign. Red Bull’s struggles have created understandable questions about whether the team can quickly return to championship-winning form.

However, Verstappen’s position is not as simple as leaving a struggling team for a stronger one. A new environment can look attractive from the outside, particularly when a driver of Verstappen’s ability is involved. But success depends on much more than the competitiveness of a single car. The relationship between the driver, engineers, management and wider team can determine whether a move becomes a success.

That is exactly where Boutsen’s warning carries weight. He questioned how long the feeling of support at a new team would last, asking whether it could continue “as long as it lasted with Red Bull.” That is an important consideration for a driver who has already experienced championship success and knows what a winning environment looks like.

There is also a reason not to assume Verstappen is preparing to leave. The former F1 driver believes the Dutchman is not necessarily far away from returning to the front. Boutsen pointed to the fact that Verstappen has previously been successful with Red Bull and suggested that different results in some races could have changed the picture considerably.

Verstappen himself has also attempted to cool the speculation. Before the Belgian Grand Prix, he said there was “nothing to say” and insisted that he would announce it himself if anything changed. That statement is important because much of the discussion surrounding his future remains speculation rather than a confirmed transfer.

Ultimately, the coming races could be crucial. Red Bull needs to demonstrate that its current difficulties are temporary and that the team can give Verstappen a realistic path back to regular victories. If that happens, staying could become the logical choice. If the competitive problems continue, the possibility of a change could become harder to ignore.

For now, however, there is no confirmed Verstappen exit. The real battle is taking place inside the decision itself: does Verstappen trust Red Bull’s future enough to stay, or does he believe his best opportunity for another championship lies elsewhere?

Source: RacingNews365, with quotes attributed to Thierry Boutsen, Max Verstappen, Toto Wolff and Andrea Stella.