Silverstone – Max Vastapane refused to be pulled on the ongoing speculation, he could leave the Red Bull for Mercedes in 2026.
Mercedes boss is Toto Wolf Interest confirmed In signing a four -time world champion for next year.
Sources have confirmed that ESPN Vastapane has a section in their contract that will exclude him from his Red Bull Deal – currently running until 2028 – if he is going third in August Summer Break.
Vastapane is currently third, Nine points ahead of Mercedes driver George Russell. Reports suggest that Vastapane can replace Russell as the British have not yet signed a contract beyond this season.
Last week, Verustapane stressed that he focuses on improving the 2025 car of Red Bull after a difficult race of results.
When asked about rumors this week, he said: “I have nothing to connect. Nothing has changed from me.
“Last week we did not have a great result. I think it was not a great weekend, but also a little inauspicious. I definitely did not say that we would challenge McLaren, but we could have a good result. And whatever I said is still the same. Nothing has changed from me.”
Last week, Wolf confirmed that he would look at his 2026 line-up during summer breaks, which follows Hungarian Grand Prix in early August. This is still when Vastapane’s section will not be triggered in relation to their championship position.
Finally, no concrete decision can be made towards Mercedes or Vastapane until the Hungarian Grand Prix is over.
ESPN understands that the Red Bull Boss Christian horner is resting about the situation, many people within the team feel that Mercedes rumors are coming more than Verustapane’s Father Jose, which is compared to the reign champion.
The question about driving in 2026 is more complex than other years, in other years, with a wide regulation change on both the Formula 1 aerodynamic and the engine side.
In the terms of the common man, effectively means a clean slate in competitive order, in which it is no accurate way to predict who will be the major team and who will struggle.
Sources have stated that ESPN Mercedes is rapidly convinced about its 2026 engine, although it is no guarantee of success in itself – Mercedes is currently being beaten by McLaren in the championship by McLaren, which supplies it to engines.
Red Bull is ending its title-winner Honda partnership after this year and will run his engines in combination with Ford in the next season. The feeling from within the Milton Keins-based team is that the new project is unlikely to produce a class-leading engine from Gate-Go, but it is impossible to predict where 2026 engines are in relation to others. Red Bull has also always proud of its car design department.
Asked if there was a risk of going into a separate team with so many unknown in 2026, Vastapane said: “That’s correct. So I’m contracting Red Bull.”
A growing principle is that Vastapane can take it out with a red bull in the next season-a year-old deal-so that the next season can be properly assessed to drive.
This scenario will allow them to see whether Ferrari or perhaps Aston Martin’s choice-silverstone-based team that is becoming the engine partner of Honda-has emerged as a good team.
Some reports have suggested that Vastapane may take a rest to see where things are, but this suggestion was only one thing that Verustapen gave a clear answer.
Asked if there was any possibility that he could sit out of F1, he replied: “No, not, of course not.”
Vastapane has shown increasing interest in participating in GT racing events, which has a highly promoted test in Nerburgering Under Franz Harman,
He suggested that he would be looking for ways to increase his participation in those events.
“I will definitely try in combination with the future [F1] With any other racing that is possible. But I cannot prepare for this. Because I want, of course, exit the Formula 1. Which, of course, I am already doing with tests, but eventually racing. ,
