Rumors continued to simmer until two days ago, when Red Bull team advisor Helmut Marko confirmed his expectation that Verstappen would be back in 2026. ESPN's Nate Saunders reported an exit clause in Verstappen's contract came and went, too, making it more likely he'd stay put.

While Marko and Red Bull have their sights set on long-term success, team principal Laurent Mekies believes that there will still be opportunities for Verstappen to record a third Grand Prix victory before the end of the campaign. This view is not shared by the team’s star driver, though.

Red Bull Racing senior advisor Helmut Marko has accused Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff of fueling rumors about Max Verstappen 's switch to Mercedes, especially about the exit clause in the Dutch driver's contract.