For months, the paddock has treated Max Verstappen‘s future as the sport’s most tantalising soap opera. Now, according to former Dutch racer Robert Doornbos, the final episode may air at Zandvoort, and it is unlikely to contain any surprises.
The Announcement That Everyone Expects
Doornbos, speaking on the Pit Talk podcast, was blunt: he believes Verstappen will use the Dutch Grand Prix, the last time Formula 1 visits the Netherlands on the current calendar, to formally confirm his commitment to Red Bull Racing through 2028.
“The future of Max Verstappen will probably be announced at Zandvoort. It is a big moment for Red Bull to keep Max on board and confirm him until 2028. That is the contract he has already signed. It is only fair to the team to say it publicly: I am staying, so we can focus on 2027.” – Robert Doornbos
On the surface, this reads as loyalty. Dig slightly deeper and it reads as a man running out of doors to open.
Where Did All the Alternatives Go?
Verstappen spent the first half of 2026 sitting sixth in the championship and making no secret of his frustration with a car that, on his own admission, was a nightmare to drive. His Hungary weekend said it all. Exit clauses in his contract kept the rumour mill spinning, with Mercedes and McLaren both mentioned as possible destinations.
Yet here is the inconvenient reality. Ferrari’s seats are occupied by Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, and neither is going anywhere. Mercedes, meanwhile, has found its next superstar in Kimi Antonelli, who leads the drivers’ championship with 219 points. Doornbos made the point with characteristic directness.
“I don’t see Mercedes pushing for Max the way they did in the past. They already have the next superstar in their own team. If George Russell keeps underperforming and becomes a problem, they can hire another second driver. You don’t chase a four-time world champion’s signature for that.” – Robert Doornbos
McLaren remains a theoretical option only if the relationship with Oscar Piastri breaks down completely, and despite some post-Hungary tension in the papaya garage, that scenario looks distant.
Peace, or Just Pragmatism?
Verstappen himself struck a notably warmer tone about Red Bull during the Hungarian GP weekend, talking up his strong personal relationships within the team. Whether that reflects genuine reconciliation or simply a man making peace with his circumstances is a question worth asking.
Red Bull has reportedly offered him a fresh deal stretching to 2029. Zandvoort, bathed in orange, would be the perfect stage for a confirmation. Convenient timing, that.
When the exit doors all happen to close at once, staying put looks a lot less like loyalty and a lot more like arithmetic.
