Months of speculation, a contract with escape clauses, and a home crowd desperate for good news. The Dutch Grand Prix weekend at Zandvoort has all the ingredients for Max Verstappen to finally address his Formula 1 future. Whether he actually does is another matter entirely.
What the Rumours Are Saying
Former F1 driver Robert Doornbos has suggested that Zandvoort is the ideal moment for Verstappen to publicly commit to Red Bull Racing through to 2028. Speaking on a podcast, Doornbos argued that a clear statement from Verstappen would allow the team to shift its full focus towards the 2027 regulations.
“I expect Max to discuss his future during the Dutch Grand Prix. This is his home race and an important moment for Red Bull. It would make sense for him to confirm he is staying until 2028.” – Robert Doornbos
Doornbos also believes the alternatives for Verstappen have largely evaporated. His reasoning: Mercedes already have their next big thing in Kimi Antonelli, who sits 110 points clear of Verstappen in the championship. The idea of Mercedes abandoning their teenager to chase a driver who has spent much of 2026 in sixth place is, frankly, a stretch. Guenther Steiner has said much the same thing.
The Contract Clause Nobody Is Officially Confirming
Reports have suggested Verstappen holds a performance-based exit clause that could allow him to leave Red Bull if he is not inside the top two in the Drivers’ Championship. He is currently sixth. The rumour also suggests he has until October to decide whether to trigger it. Neither Verstappen nor Red Bull has confirmed any of this publicly, so treat it accordingly: as a rumour.
What is interesting is that Formula 1 itself appeared to list Verstappen as a confirmed Red Bull driver for 2027 in a social media post alongside Norris, Leclerc, Hamilton, and others. Whether that was a deliberate signal or a scheduling admin error is, again, unconfirmed.
A Poignant Backdrop
This is also the final Dutch Grand Prix. Zandvoort is leaving the calendar after this weekend, with operating costs reportedly approaching 100 million euros proving impossible to justify. The circuit returned in 2021 essentially because of Verstappen’s star power, and now it bows out with him wearing a special commemorative helmet and his own future still technically unresolved.
Expect Questions, Not Necessarily Answers
Verstappen will face the media on Thursday ahead of the race, and he will be asked about his future repeatedly. He may well confirm he is staying at Red Bull. Or he may do what he has done all season: say nothing definitive and leave everyone guessing until October.
One thing is certain. The home crowd will be hoping for good news. Whether Verstappen delivers it is his call, not Doornbos’s, and certainly not F1’s social media team’s.
