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By Saajan Jogia
Sports Contributing Writer
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Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has revealed when Max Verstappen could part ways with the Red Bull Racing Formula One team. Steiner opened up amid reports of Verstappen's potential exit to join Mercedes in 2026.
Mercedes driver George Russell admitted that his contract extension talks were on hold because of his team's ongoing discussions with Verstappen. Russell's team boss, Toto Wolff, acknowledged the interest in signing the four-time world champion, but hinted that Verstappen will likely not switch teams in 2026.
Red Bull has been struggling to solve issues with its RB21 F1 car, as McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris dominate the grid for the 2025 championship. While Verstappen remains in contention for the championship, mathematically, Red Bull will have to bounce back with a significant performance boost to help the Dutch driver secure his fifth title.
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The recent exit of Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has added a layer of uncertainty to Verstappen's future with the team, despite his contract lasting until the end of 2028. F1 enters a new era of regulations next year with new cars powered by an equal ratio of electric power and internal combustion. As a result, it is nearly impossible to predict the pecking order for 2026.
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Steiner believes it would be risky for Verstappen to shift teams after the 2025 season, given the big reset next year. Thus, he has predicted that the 27-year-old driver would likely part ways with Red Bull after assessing the team's performance next year. In an interview with Talksport, he was asked if Verstappen would leave Red Bull in the future. As quoted by RacingNews365, he said:
"I would say yes, at any point, I don't think for next year.
"My take is he will stay where he is next year to see how the cars next year are with the new regulations, new engines, new cars, everything is new. Nobody really knows who is where, who will be good, no idea.
"So if you make a change now, you take a big risk, and at this stage, I think he maybe stays where he is for next year, and maybe end of next year, he sees how the cards stack, who has a good car, and then tries to get in the best car.
"And normally, if you are the best driver, you have a chance to get in the best car, because they are the people who want you.
"And he's a very wise guy, very well advised by his father and his manager. And I think he just waits it out for next year.
"End of next year, he'll make a decision where he will be going for '27."
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