Jeddah, April 19 (HS): Amidst all the speculation about Max Verstappen's future in the world of Formula One, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has made a significant statement. Horner made it clear on Friday that Verstappen will be seen with Red Bull next season as well, and there is no crisis within the team.

Halted the rumors

In recent days, there were reports that Verstappen might use his exit clause following concerns from Red Bull's motorsport consultant Helmut Marko. It was believed that Mercedes and Aston Martin were interested in signing him.

However, during an interview with Sky Sports at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Horner said, There is a lot of noise outside the team. Max reiterated his commitment yesterday. We are focused on improving the car, and Max is a crucial part of that. The rest is just rumors.

Aston Martin's $88 million offer

The Italian newspaper 'Gazzetta dello Sport' reported, without any official source, that Aston Martin, with Saudi funding, is willing to pay Verstappen $88 million annually for three years. However, Aston Martin team boss Andy Cowell has stated that they are currently focused on Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll for 2026.

There were also discussions regarding a potential deal between Mercedes and Verstappen, but former Mercedes strategy chief and now Williams team boss James Vowles dismissed that possibility. He said, Verstappen is a fantastic driver, but he also comes with some difficulties. Mercedes has a great team culture and two excellent drivers. I don't think there is a place for him there.

Horner clarified reports about a meeting held by the Red Bull team in Bahrain being labeled a 'crisis summit.' He said, If you are reviewing the race with your engineering team, it cannot be called a crisis meeting. We know what the issues are with the car and plan to bring several upgrades in the upcoming race to address them.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar