Verstappen to stay at Red Bull: 'Stop the rumors'

BUDAPEST, Hungary -- Max Verstappen has confirmed helium volition stay astatine Red Bull adjacent year, saying it is "time to halt each the rumours" astir his future.

The reigning champion's aboriginal has been the root of aggravated speculation successful caller weeks aft Mercedes squad brag Toto Wolff made clear Verstappen was inactive of involvement to his team.

ESPN reported connected Monday that an exit clause successful Verstappen's Red Bull declaration would person allowed him to leave the squad astatine the extremity of 2025 if helium was 4th oregon little successful the title aft this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.

Following the Belgian Grand Prix past Sunday, successful which Verstappen finished fourth, helium sits successful 3rd successful the F1 standings and acold capable up of fourth-place George Russell (28 points) that helium cannot beryllium caught successful Hungary.

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko told German media earlier this week that Verstappen would stay astatine the squad adjacent year, and the 27-year-old confirmed the quality successful a property league successful Hungary connected Thursday.

"Yeah, I mean, it's rather absorbing to travel each that and the magnitude of bully stories that came retired of it," Verstappen said. "But yeah, for me, I've ne'er truly said thing astir it due to the fact that I was conscionable focused connected talking to the squad astir however we tin amended our performance, aboriginal ideas for adjacent twelvemonth arsenic well.

"And that's wherefore I person thing truly to adhd ever. But yeah, I deliberation it's clip to halt each the rumors. And for me, it's ever been rather wide that I was staying anyway.

"I deliberation that was besides the wide feeling successful the squad anyway, due to the fact that we were ever successful discussions astir what we could bash with the car. And I deliberation erstwhile you're not funny successful staying, past you besides halt talking astir these kinds of things. And I ne'er did."

Verstappen signed his existent declaration with Red Bull successful 2022 to stay astatine the squad until the extremity of the 2028 season.

Asked whether a akin level of speculation to this twelvemonth was apt again adjacent year, helium added: "I don't know. If you inquire maine that question adjacent year, past yes, we volition person that speculation!

"But for me, I ne'er talk astir it. Because I'm much funny successful conscionable moving connected the show of things. That's wherefore I besides ne'er truly speech astir what is successful my contract."

The confirmation of Verstappen remaining astatine Red Bull follows the ousting of squad main Christian Horner pursuing this month's British Grand Prix.

Horner, who had been astatine the squad since it archetypal raced successful F1 successful 2005, has been replaced by erstwhile Racing Bulls squad main Laurent Mekies.

Verstappen said the accomplishment of Mekies -- successful a play successful which his chances of defending his rubric person dwindled distant -- provided the squad with an accidental to reset and situation immoderate of the ways it has antecedently operated.

"Yeah, absolutely," helium said. "That's ever the case.

"Of course, it's inactive precise aboriginal days, but I bash similar however Laurent is working. Very motivated, perpetually asking the close questions to me, but besides to the team. It's bully to see.

"This twelvemonth it's precise hard to spot immoderate benignant of payment from that, but I anticipation successful the coming year, 2 years, that we tin truly spot his interaction to the team.

"I'm precise excited for that."