Max Verstappen made a trip to the Red Bull factory in Milton Keynes to speak to the team, just a day after the shock removal of team principal Christian Horner.
Horner was brutally removed from operational duties with immediate effect on Wednesday, after a difficult 2025 season for the Milton Keynes outfit.
While it is unclear what the exact cause of the dismissal was, the performance of this year's Red Bull car appears to be a big factor in the decision.
Verstappen’s future has been up in the air over the last few months, with many linking him with a move to Mercedes for 2026.
Christian Horner oversaw great success at Red Bull during his time in chargeGETTYAfter Horner’s removal, he visited the Red Bull factory to give an emotional farewell speech to the team he had worked with for 20 years. It is now understood that Verstappen has returned to Milton Keynes to speak to the team.
“We understand that Max’s private jet flew into an airport near Milton Keynes,” said Sky F1 reporter Ted Kravitz.
“He might have been there anyway, just for simulator duties. We’ve got a couple of weeks’ break until the Belgian Grand Prix, so he has to be there.”
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While Verstappen’s future remains up in the air, Kravitz reassured fans: “He’ll be there just to reassure his engineers, and to show his face to staff, that he’s still committed, at least for the short term.
“We don’t know what his long-term plans are.
"But in this period of turmoil for the team in terms of their leadership, he’s there to show that he’s ready to work with the new boss Laurent Mekies.”
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Max Verstappen's future is very much in doubt following the sacking
ReutersWhile Verstappen appears to be showing his support for Red Bull in the short term, questions will remain around where the four-time champion will lend his services in 2026 and beyond.
It is rumoured that Red Bull has not got to grips with the 2026 regulations, and with new Ford powertrains coming to the Milton Keynes factory, Red Bull could dominate or be at the back of the field.
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Toto Wolff has been looking at bringing Max Verstappen into Mercedes GettyToto Wolff has made it very clear he wants to get the Dutchman’s services at the Silver Arrows, as well as a reunion with Adrian Newey on the cards. Time will tell as the season progresses.
For the time being, the reigning champion has to focus on learning the ways of new team principal Laurent Mekies as the Red Bull driver will have a lot of home support at the Belgium Grand Prix next weekend.