Red Bull Chief Confident Max Verstappen Will End F1 Career with Team, Unconcerned by Performance Clause
Red Bull executive Oliver Mintzlaff has dismissed speculation about Max Verstappen leaving the team, expressing full confidence the four-time champion will end his F1 career with them. He stated he is unafraid of any performance clause in Verstappen's contract, citing mutual loyalty and the team's all-in effort as key reasons for the driver to stay, especially as Red Bull invests heavily in its new in-house engine project for 2026.
Red Bull executive Oliver Mintzlaff has expressed unwavering confidence that Max Verstappen will see out his Formula 1 career with the team, dismissing concerns about a potential performance-related exit clause in the driver's contract. Despite swirling rumors linking the four-time world champion to Mercedes for the 2027 season, Mintzlaff emphasized the mutual loyalty and shared ambition between Verstappen and Red Bull.
Why it matters:
Verstappen's long-term future is a pivotal storyline for F1's competitive landscape. His potential departure would trigger a seismic shift in the driver market and could destabilize Red Bull's post-2026 project. Mintzlaff's public assurance aims to project stability and confidence in Red Bull's in-house engine program and overall direction, which is crucial for retaining top talent and maintaining competitive momentum.
The details:
- Mintzlaff, CEO of Corporate Projects and New Investments at Red Bull GmbH, directly addressed speculation about a performance clause in Verstappen's contract, which runs through 2028, stating he is "not afraid" of it being triggered.
- He attributes Verstappen's likely continued loyalty to the driver seeing "everyone in the team is giving their all" and being impressed with the team's results and atmosphere.
- The executive highlighted Red Bull's significant investment in its new Red Bull Powertrains (RBPT) division, which will produce its own engines in collaboration with Ford from 2026, calling it a "unique step" for an energy drink brand.
- Mintzlaff dismissed narratives that Verstappen or his camp wield excessive influence within the team, calling such claims "nonsense" and clarifying that "all agreements are clear" and no special requests have been made.
The big picture:
The confidence from Red Bull's upper management comes amidst acknowledged challenges. Both former team principal Christian Horner and his successor Laurent Mekies have tempered expectations for the new RBPT-Ford power unit in 2026, with Horner calling immediate superiority "embarrassing" and Mekies labeling matching rivals from the start as "silly." Mintzlaff's comments are a strategic counter-narrative, aiming to reinforce internal belief and external perception during a critical development phase. His vision extends beyond Verstappen's driving career, expressing hope that the Dutchman will remain with the team in another role after retirement, leveraging his unique technical insight.
What's next:
All eyes will be on Red Bull's performance trajectory leading into the 2026 regulation overhaul. Verstappen's manager, Raymond Vermeulen, has previously called 2026 a "very important year" that could "determine where his future lies." Mintzlaff's bullish stance sets the stage for the next two seasons, where Red Bull must demonstrate tangible progress with its chassis and, crucially, its new power unit to match the confidence being projected from the boardroom and keep its star driver committed for the long term.