F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi - Final Practice - Source: Getty
Christian Horner addressed speculation around Max Verstappen's future with Red Bull and feels that the driver would continue to be a part of the team until the squad gives him a fast car. The Dutch driver's contract with the team runs until the end of the 2028 F1 season, but multiple exit clauses have been put in place since the deal was signed.
When the contract was initially signed in 2022, the length of it did come as a surprise to many, but the dynamics between Red Bull and Verstappen at the time were quite good, and hence it did not appear that things could fall apart. The first sign of cracks came in 2024 when the team started struggling with its car concept.
After starting the 2024 F1 season in dominant fashion, Red Bull struggled with the development of the car and hence, Verstappen had to change his approach in races to get the best possible result every weekend and not just target wins every time. To add to this, the internal situation at the team with Horner's internal investigation and tensions with Helmut Marko brought things to the brink.
