Max Verstappen will live to regret his decision not to move to Mercedes for the 2026 season, according to Express Sport readers. The Dutchman has committed his services to Red Bull next year, clearing the path for George Russell to sign a new long-term contract with the Silver Arrows.

Rumors continued to simmer until two days ago, when Red Bull team advisor Helmut Marko confirmed his expectation that Verstappen would be back in 2026. ESPN's Nate Saunders reported an exit clause in Verstappen's contract came and went, too, making it more likely he'd stay put.

Moreover, team principal Christian Horner was dismissed from his role by Red Bull, though Verstappen has since said his exit will not have any bearing on his own future. Throughout the entire saga, it has been known that there is a performance-related release clause in Verstappen’s contract which runs until 2028.