Max Verstappen has delivered a scathing assessment of the relentless speculation surrounding his Formula 1 future, directly accusing unnamed parties of "stirring the pot" and "creating drama."
In a candid interview with Sky Sports F1 ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, the Red Bull Racing star broke his long silence to assert that his commitment to the team for 2026 was always "quite clear."
For months, the paddock has been consumed by rumours linking Verstappen to Mercedes, particularly after Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari for 2025.
Whispers of performance clauses in his Red Bull contract, and even alleged meetings with Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff, have fuelled a narrative of potential instability.
A visibly frustrated Verstappen hit back at the ongoing chatter. "People are waffling so much throughout the whole season, while the only one that actually can or should speak is not speaking - that's me," Verstappen told Sky Sports F1.
"And I do that on purpose, because it makes no sense to start throwing things around. And actually, that should be the same for everyone."
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The four-time world champion, who is celebrating his 200th Grand Prix with Red Bull this weekend, was unequivocal in his disdain for the manufactured headlines. "Some people just like to stir the pot. Some people just like to create drama. But for me, it's always been quite clear,"
Crucially, Verstappen left no room for doubt about his immediate commitment to Red Bull as Formula 1 prepares for the sweeping new regulations in 2026.
"For next year, I'm already discussing with the team the plans and things that we want to change for next year, so that means that I'm also staying with the team for next year."
This definitive statement from Verstappen himself, following weeks of carefully deflecting questions, brings much-needed clarity to the driver market.
It reinforces the earlier mathematical confirmation that a performance clause in his contract, which could have allowed him to leave if he was outside the top three in the Drivers' Championship by the summer break, would not be triggered.
For Red Bull, it provides immense stability at a pivotal time, especially after the recent departure of Christian Horner as Team Principal.
For Mercedes, it definitively closes the door on their ambitious pursuit, likely clearing the way for new contract announcements for George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Verstappen's direct words underline his desire to focus solely on performance and dismiss external distractions, firmly putting an end to one of the most persistent and, in his view, artificially inflated transfer sagas of the 2025 F1 season.
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