With a move to Mercedes seemingly off the cards, Verstappen is now well-placed to remain at Red Bull until the end of his contract in 2028. It has been speculated that the four-time world champion could then retire, provided he is content with his achievements in F1, instead pursuing a new career in endurance racing.

Max Verstappen has been heavily linked with a switch away from Red Bull to Formula 1 rivals Mercedes for months, with speculation intensifying since boss Christian Horner was axed