Verstappen to Decide His Future Mid-2026, Says Piquet

With F1’s 2026 shake-up ahead, Max Verstappen is set to weigh his long-term future with Red Bull mid-season.

According to someone very close to Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion plans to stay with Red Bull through 2026, giving the team a chance to prove itself under the new F1 regulations before deciding whether to move on.

Rumors continue to swirl about a possible switch to Mercedes or Aston Martin, as Verstappen looks to avoid any performance drop or internal drama at Red Bull. With major regulation changes coming in 2026, many see that as a natural turning point in his career.

Still, Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff recently said during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix that he’s “confident Max will continue the journey” with the team next year.

That sentiment is echoed by Nelson Piquet Jr, Verstappen’s brother-in-law.

“He’ll make a decision about his future around mid-2026,” said the Brazilian, brother of Kelly Piquet, Verstappen’s partner.

Piquet, son of three-time world champion Nelson Piquet, is best remembered in F1 for his involvement in the 2008 “Crashgate” scandal.

“Let’s say Mercedes starts 2026 with a big lead, like they did in the early hybrid era back in 2014,” he added. “It could take other teams two or three seasons to catch up.”

In other words, Piquet expects Verstappen to evaluate the competitive landscape from behind the wheel at Red Bull in 2026 before making any big moves.

“There’s no point sitting on the sidelines taking a break. Max will decide his future mid-season, but he’ll probably announce it at the end of the year.”

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Verstappen to Decide His Future Mid-2026, Says Piquet Verstappen to Decide His Future Mid-2026, Says Piquet