Max Verstappen has cautioned Red Bull that he might consider moving to another team if he wishes to, amidst ongoing speculation about a potential switch to Mercedes for the 2026 Formula 1 season. He has not confirmed whether his current contract with Red Bull includes a release clause, even after team principal Christian Horner acknowledged that there is a “performance element” within the agreement.

Despite being contracted until the end of the 2028 season, Verstappen has been frequently linked to a departure from Red Bull in 2024 due to the team’s declining performance and tensions between Horner and Verstappen’s father, Jos. Mercedes has openly expressed interest in signing Verstappen, with team boss Toto Wolff stating earlier this year that he would “love to have” the reigning three-time World Champion.

The recent shock move of Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari has left a gap at Mercedes, which opted to promote young talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli as Hamilton’s successor. However, with Antonelli’s contract length unspecified and George Russell’s deal expiring after the 2025 season, it has been suggested that Mercedes may renew their interest in Verstappen ahead of the significant regulatory changes in 2026.

At the Dutch Grand Prix last month, Horner emphasized that Verstappen and Red Bull have a commitment until 2028 but acknowledged the presence of a performance element in the contract. He expressed optimism that Verstappen would remain with Red Bull as long as the team provides a competitive car.

After a historically dominant 2023 season, where Verstappen won nearly every race, Red Bull and Verstappen have not secured a victory in their last eight races—marking their longest winless streak since 2020. Verstappen mentioned that he feels “quite relaxed” about his future in F1, stating that he will not hesitate to switch teams if he chooses, but he is not currently considering leaving the Constructors’ Champions.

He remarked to Sky Italy, “People talk a lot more about these things than I do. I am very relaxed. I just think about driving and trying to understand my problems and improve. Then I go home and live my life. I like what I do, and as long as I enjoy it, I will stay here and continue driving in F1. If I want to go elsewhere, I will go elsewhere. But at the moment, it is not in my head.”

When asked directly about a potential clause in his contract allowing him to leave Red Bull before 2028, he responded, “Maybe yes or maybe no. Again, I don’t think about that at the moment. There are many things this year that I want to understand and improve upon, and what happens after that is still far away for me.”

Verstappen reiterated that his next move will be the “last step” of his F1 career, emphasizing that he is likely to retire young to explore opportunities in other racing categories. He did not dismiss the idea of extending his stay at Red Bull beyond 2028, stating that “everything is pending” for now.

He expressed, “For my part, I think I’ve been with this team for a long time. Everyone wants to win, so you can easily switch teams over the years. But I don’t want my F1 career to be like that. I want a long, stable relationship with everyone in the team and feel at home. Changing teams often is not appealing to me, and I don’t want to do that at this stage of my career. My next move, if there ever is one, will be my last. But that next move could also be a renewal with the team. Everything is pending at the moment.”

Verstappen’s comments follow Horner’s interest in Russell, as he mentioned that Red Bull would be “foolish” not to consider him for 2026, amid uncertainties regarding Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez’s futures. Reports from Germany last week suggested that Verstappen’s father has a gentleman’s agreement with Wolff for his son to join Mercedes in 2026, banking on Mercedes excelling under the new rules.

Earlier this year, former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan claimed that Mercedes executives, including Wolff and others, convened in Monaco to discuss creating a “fighting fund” to accommodate Verstappen’s salary. He indicated that Verstappen was aware of the meeting, hinting at a possible switch to Mercedes in the “next few years.”