Guenther Steiner explains why Max Verstappen could stay at Red Bull for 2026: "Very risky"

Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner believes that four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen will remain at Red Bull for 2026 as he believes it would be "very risky" to leave.

Questions about the Dutchman's future with Red Bull arose when Mercedes chief Toto Wolff confirmed he was in talks with Verstappen for a potential future contract. Although Wolff confirmed that the probability of the 27-year-old joining the Brackley outfit for 2026 was very low, George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes contracts remain unconfirmed for next year. 

Adding to the speculation, Red Bull announced on Wednesday that team principal and CEO Christian Horner had been removed from his role with immediate effect.

"Max will definitely stay at Red Bull for sure, or I think definitely for '26," Steiner explained to Sport.de. "He'll look around and see what happens next year. The situation is who is strong, who isn't, which team, because changing at the moment and signing a long-term contract with someone, whoever it is, is very risky.

"That's why he says I'll stay where I am, look at it and he certainly has clauses in his contract that if things don't work out next year, he can still move. And we know that the best team always wants the best driver, and the best driver always wants to be on the best team. That's why I think he has exactly the chance next year. But changing now would be a risk."

2026 brings in a wave of new regulations to the championship, meaning it will be incredibly difficult to predict the performance of the teams next year. On top of the new regulations, Red Bull is also parting ways with Honda to introduce the newly developed Red Bull Powertrains in collaboration with Ford.

Guenther Steiner, Miami Grand Prix Ambassador

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

"Whatever he might say, 'I'm not going to bother myself,'" Steiner continued. "'I'm going to wait until '26. I'll see what the situation is like, how the teams are doing with the new regulations. And then I might decide on '27.' But moving now would be a bit risky, because I don't think anyone would give him a contract for just one year.

"And it wouldn't be good for him if he were with a different team for one year now and then next year. That's not good. Then he'll move again. That's why he says, 'I'll stay where I am and look at the next one!'"