There’s still some time before F1 returns from the summer break. But until then, the silly season is in full swing. Max Verstappen’s future with Red Bull has been one of the hottest topics in the sport, but neither party appears interested in addressing rumors.
However, Formula One insider Ralf Bach revealed on the F1-Insider podcast that Red Bull Racing has offered the Dutchman a new five-year contract that would see him in the team until 2033.
“Red Bull has made him an offer to stay on a long-term basis. I’ve heard it’s for five years with a lot of money. But he doesn’t want to give up that exit clause, if at all,” Bach revealed on the F1-Insider podcast on August 20.
The new contract, Bach claims, would come with a substantial price hike but without exit clauses.
“And, if anything, he [Verstappen] wants to sign an alternative one-year contract, which means he’ll be driving for Red Bull again in ‘27 to see if Newey’s successors, who haven’t quite managed it so far, can build him a car this time that will let him win races and compete for the title,” Bach added. “And if not, then at the end of ‘27, he’ll decide: ‘I’m quitting, do I still want to be in Formula 1?’ If so, he probably won’t want to stay with Red Bull.”
One GPBlog.com report also stated that Verstappen could possibly find a seat at McLaren, Mercedes, or even Ferrari in 2028, as the contracts of most drivers from said teams will likely expire that year. This appears to be unlikely at the moment, though.
Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc is highly likely to continue with Ferrari beyond 2028, as he has just signed another multi-year deal with the team.
Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s contracts are supposed to end by 2027 and 2028 respectively. But it is understood that they could possibly be extended by their teams.
Mercedes are also said to have locked down George Russell and Kimi Antonelli with multi-year contracts, and they probably would not want to rock the boat.
Verstappen was also recently linked to rumors of swapping seats with Piastri at McLaren, but those rumors seem to have died down since then. He reportedly attended a meeting with Red Bull leadership, but refused to commit to the team for the future.
Meanwhile, another driver has become one of the first few to confirm his future plans.
Alex Albon signs on for another year at Williams
While Carlos Sainz Jr. is yet to comment on his future with Williams, Alex Albon has now confirmed he will spend his sixth consecutive season with the Grove-based squad.
According to an August 18 report from motorsport.com, the 30-year-old has agreed to a one-year extension of his current contract, as he looks to see through the results of the team’s rebuilding phase.
“Since joining Atlassian Williams F1 Team in 2022, the transformation this team has made is difficult to put into words,” Albon said in an official statement. “One tough year doesn’t tell the full picture, and it only gives me more motivation to keep building and pushing together with the factory and our fans to achieve great things.”
Albon also recently became the team’s longest-serving driver earlier in 2026, crossing the 100 GP threshold. the Anglo-Thai driver remains optimistic, and his comments reveal his dedication to seeing his team succeed.