Christian Horner on Max Verstappen Exit Talk: ‘We Need to Prove Red Bull is The Place to be’

Red Bull’s director of the Red Bull team Christian Horner responded to speculation about Max Verstappen’s potential exit from the team.

Red Bull has trouble fighting for racing victories and does not respond to the high level of McLaren.

Although it is not at the bottom of the grid, the Milton Keynes -based team does not provide Verstappen with a car that can regularly fight for racing victories.

Verstappen probably has clauses in his contract which could let him go if certain performance measures are not respected.

Any team would do everything you need to secure it as a driver, but Mercedes is better ready to get his signature.

While rumors continue to circulate to find out if the quadruple champion will leave his only F1 team, Horner is well aware of what is at stake in the coming months about the future of Verstappen.

“There is absolutely no guarantee for a team or a manufacturer of engines which can, at heart, say that they are considerably ahead of any other manufacturer,” Horner told Sky Sports F1.

“Who knows what will be the hierarchical order? 2026 represents the greatest change in regulation with the chassis and the engine, probably during the last 50 years of F1.

“Now, Max is probably the most on demand driver, he is the best in the world, he is absolutely, unequivocally the best driver. Now, when you think objectively, in 2026, by staying where he is … He will have all these options, it will not only be with a team, it will be with all the teams for 2027.

“And it is up to us to demonstrate that we are on the right trajectory, that we play, that we are progressing – that Red Bull is the right place for him.

“His desire, and he said it several times, is to end his career in a Red Bull car, to start.

“I think that if he sees that there is this potential, then I do not see why it is not feasible. But of course, he is also hungry to obtain more victories, more titles, than his talent deserves. So, I think it is more around 2027, than maybe around 2026.”

Mercedes has proven itself in development of good engines when a new formula is published, and Verstappen can seek to get out of a ship potentially in Red Bull drips.

Horner has the advantage of time to prove the team’s ability to deliver a good car in the coming season – making the second half of 2025 and the closed -door meetings all the more important.