– The start of summer traditionally marks the time when attention in Formula 1 gradually turns to the driver market for the coming year – the so-called “Silly Season” in the premier class.
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Ferrari and Charles Leclerc pre-empted this process even before the Monaco Grand Prix by extending their collaboration. The exact duration of the contract was not disclosed, but Ferrari confirmed that it is a multi-year agreement.
This means the Monegasque is off the market, but many open puzzle pieces still need to be put together in the coming months. And just like last year, a crucial part of this puzzle revolves around Max Verstappen.
In Monaco, Verstappen made it clear that he is not thinking about a new contract at all right now. He prefers to wait for two reasons: firstly, whether he wants to stay in Formula 1 beyond next year at all, and secondly, which team offers him the best chances for a competitive package and a good environment.
“I haven’t signed a new contract for a while, but that’s normal. A new contract is absolutely not my biggest concern right now. I still have two years left,” he reminds.
Asked about Red Bull potentially wanting to tie him down beyond 2028, Verstappen replies: “I first have to decide for myself whether I want to continue beyond 2028. That’s why I’m not in a hurry at all. Otherwise, I would have signed a contract until 2040 long ago,” Verstappen says, laughing.
Regarding the first step, whether Verstappen wants to stay in Formula 1 at all, he spoke positively in Canada about the “fundamental agreement” to change the ratio between combustion engine and electric power to 60:40.
Verstappen said such a move would “definitely help” keep him in Formula 1. However, the political reality behind the scenes has proven to be significantly more complicated.
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Several manufacturers reject parts of the proposal for various reasons, from Ferrari’s focus on ADUO to Audi’s cost concerns, which is why discussions about a compromise continue behind closed doors.
This is an important factor for Verstappen’s future, even if it seems very likely that he will stay given the current situation. Precisely for this reason, the Dutchman did not want to comment on the political process when asked in Monaco.
“Let’s wait and see what comes out of it. I’ve said everything I wanted to say about it. Now it’s up to FIA and FOM to make a decision together. And I hope they make the right decision for the sport,” said Verstappen.
Asked if the FIA was aware that this could be a dealbreaker for him, the four-time world champion laughs: “Well, I think they read your articles too. I’ve always had good communication with them in principle, so I hope the right thing comes out in the end.”
Red Bull hopes for a commitment – but Verstappen has time
Assuming the final compromise is acceptable to Verstappen, the question then arises as to what colors he will be driving in next year. Red Bull has repeatedly expressed confidence that Verstappen will remain with the Milton Keynes team next season.
This is partly due to the environment built around him there, and partly due to the freedom Red Bull offers him outside Formula 1, such as starts at the Nürburgring or the free choice of GT3 manufacturer.
Verstappen has repeatedly emphasized that this freedom is absolutely crucial for his endurance racing ambitions and that he would not even enter into discussions with any other team if this were not possible.
Last year, two other factors also played a role in his loyalty to Red Bull. The first was, logically, the exit clauses in his contract. After the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix, it was clear that Verstappen would be in the top 3 of the overall standings before the summer break, so he could not exercise the clause for 2026.
Secondly, Red Bull had just dismissed Christian Horner and replaced him with Laurent Mekies – a move Verstappen viewed positively. There has been good cooperation with Mekies ever since.
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Politically, it would have been almost impossible to leave just a few weeks after this change at the top, which is why Verstappen stated in Hungary last year that he would have stayed with Red Bull regardless of the contract clauses.
This year, the situation could theoretically be different. Verstappen is currently in seventh place in the world championship, which potentially opens up different possibilities regarding the clauses than a year ago.
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Red Bull hopes that Verstappen will publicly commit to the team beforehand, also to avoid a repeat saga like last year, and because they are aware of the contractual situation.
From Verstappen’s perspective, however, there is no reason to make such a statement now. For him, it might be more sensible to wait, both regarding the FIA decisions and to assess competitiveness, for example, among rivals like Mercedes and McLaren.
As last year, Red Bull must show that a difficult start to the season can still be turned into a successful one. The update package in Miami was a positive first step, but Verstappen and the team want to see more.
Monaco went surprisingly well, but the Dutchman emphasized that Barcelona, with its several fast corners, will be the real benchmark. The 2026 season will primarily be a development battle, both for the chassis and the power unit thanks to ADUO. Therefore, it makes the most sense for Verstappen to wait with a public commitment.
This inevitably brings back the usual speculation about teams like Mercedes. George Russell does have a contract and emphasized during the April break that he would stay with Mercedes next year. But contracts alone are never decisive in Formula 1. Performance always plays a central role.
Ferrari has pre-empted possible domino effects
This again suggests that Verstappen will play the key role in the upcoming “Silly Season”. Should he ever switch teams, Red Bull would logically need a list of potential replacement drivers.
Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri would be obvious options, with the former definitely no longer available after Ferrari’s announcement before Monaco.
Piastri reacted cleverly to earlier reports linking him to Red Bull. He said he was very happy at McLaren but felt honored by the interest from other teams – also with regard to his market value.
The Australian also has a contract for the coming years, but like all drivers in the field, these contain corresponding clauses.
Thus, the ball is first with the FIA and then with Verstappen. A change by the Dutchman would trigger a domino effect in the driver market. If he stays with Red Bull, however, things at the top of the field could remain relatively quiet – just like last year.
Ferrari has at least already positioned itself for all scenarios. With Leclerc’s extension, the team has secured its cornerstone for the future, while Lewis Hamilton has made it clear that he “wants to stay” – despite ongoing speculation.
And even if something were to change, the Scuderia already has a successor in Oliver Bearman waiting in the wings. Ferrari is thus well-positioned, no matter what happens.
Whether there will be movement elsewhere seems – just like twelve months ago – to depend largely on one person. Red Bull would like a commitment from this person, but Verstappen has no reason to give one and is well advised to wait until later in the summer.
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