Piquet suggests Verstappen is moving to Mercedes in 2026.
"Who can predict what will unfold next year?"
With Christian Horner no longer a consideration, attention shifts back to Max Verstappen's next steps in Formula 1. Former F1 racer Ralf Schumacher revealed he witnessed the final confrontation between Max's father, Jos, and Horner at Silverstone, with Bild newspaper disclosing the details of their exchange. "I’ll keep the pressure on you, Christian," Jos allegedly stated. Shortly after, with Red Bull’s Thai co-owner Chalerm Yoovidhya unable to shield Horner after diminishing his 51 percent control by 2 percent, Horner is now out.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen was on his way to Sardinia. "It’s no coincidence that there are two yachts off the coast of Sardinia this week," Schumacher remarked to motorsport-total.com. "One belongs to Toto Wolff, and the other to Max Verstappen. I can picture them having coffee together." Some speculate that Horner’s departure resulted from an ultimatum presented by the Verstappen camp to Red Bull, though former F1 driver Christijan Albers expresses skepticism. "I don’t think Max said 'it’s him or me,'" he told the Dutch outlet Formule 1. "That’s not his style. However, he did indicate that changes are necessary. Red Bull cannot thrive without Max, and that’s not how it should function in a top team."
Former Haas team leader Gunther Steiner believes that Verstappen, now 27, will stay at Red Bull long enough to evaluate the modifications under the new Laurent Mekies regime. "I think he’ll remain where he is next year," Steiner stated to sport.de. "There will be entirely new regulations—no one knows the positioning yet. Switching now and entering into a long-term contract presents too much risk." According to Steiner, a move in 2027 appears to be more sensible. "Typically, if you’re the best driver, you have a strong chance of landing in the best car," he explained. "That’s how it operates in Formula 1. Max will thoughtfully assess next year who offers the best package."
Interestingly, a well-informed insider disclosed that the four-time world champion may have already reached a decision. While discussing Mercedes’ current performance on the Pelas Pistas podcast, Nelson Piquet Jr. remarked: "There are weekends this year when things just don’t align for Mercedes. But who knows what will happen next year when Max is driving there?" Piquet, 39, is not only the son of F1 icon Nelson Piquet Sr. but also the older brother of Verstappen’s girlfriend Kelly. After hinting that Verstappen will be "driving there" at Mercedes in 2026, he quickly reversed his statement, saying, "I believe he’ll make a decision in August."
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