The Formula 1 paddock has never been shy of gossip, and the juiciest whispers this season swirled around Max Verstappen and the possibility of a sensational move to Mercedes in 2026.
With Toto Wolff openly acknowledging talks and George Russell hinting at contract delays, speculation ran wild. But as the rumor mill roared, Verstappen himself stayed silent – deliberately so.
The four-time world champion chose to keep his focus on the track and his long-time home, Red Bull. And with a contract tying him to the Milton Keynes squad until 2028, Verstappen’s reasons for staying quiet were as calculated as his racecraft.
“Well, the thing is that there's always other people speaking a lot, while I'm not really talking, because first of all I don't need to, I don't need to say anything,” Verstappen told F1.com, finally addressing the frenzy.
Silence Was Golden
The gossip kicked into high gear when Mercedes’ George Russell let slip that his own contract talks were paused while team boss Toto Wolff explored a blockbuster move for Verstappen.
Wolff later admitted to the talks but downplayed the likelihood of the Dutchman joining the Brackley outfit.
The F1 paddock, always hungry for drama, buzzed with speculation about whether Verstappen might trade Red Bull’s wings for Mercedes’ silver arrows. Yet, through it all, the 27-year-old remained tight-lipped, letting others fuel the fire.
“I think that's also better for everyone, instead of just waffling things around,” he added.
“It makes no sense anyway, it's a bit of a waste of time, but for me I'm very focused on '26 with the team, to look ahead and make sure that we nail the regulations, and that we are competitive from the start.”
In the end, the Dutchman shut down the rumors emphatically by confirming his commitment to Red Bull for 2026. Mercedes might have sniffed around, but Verstappen made it clear: his eyes are locked on the future with Red Bull.
A 200-Race Journey with the Same Family
Having first burst onto the scene in 2015 with Toro Rosso, Verstappen’s rise has been meteoric. He grabbed his maiden Red Bull victory just a year later in Spain, and nearly a decade on, he has four world championships under his belt.
This season, he marked another milestone – his 200th Grand Prix with the team in Hungary.
“It's been great being part of a team for so long,” he said. “It definitely is like a second family. We have achieved so many beautiful things, including, of course, winning championships together.”
Reflecting on the landmark, Verstappen admitted he didn’t even realize he had hit the double century until after the race.
“I didn't even know it was my 200th Grand Prix with the team, so in a way it goes so fast, but also when you look back at the Grands Prix that we've done together, there's so many great memories.”
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And for the boy who made his debut at just 17, the achievement feels monumental.
“When I started racing in Formula 1, I think a target of hitting 200 grands prix already is something really nice, so to be able to do that with one team is fantastic.”
Verstappen’s silence may have left fans guessing for weeks, but his reasoning was simple: let others do the talking while he keeps his head down.
For him, the focus remains firmly on the future with Red Bull – no matter how loudly the rumor mill spins.
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