I'M LEAVING: Max Verstappen shock people with immediate resignation and departure today after facing....

Despite being on a contract at Red Bull that runs to the end of 2028, Verstappen’s future at the team has been subject of on-off speculation all season following tensions at the start of the year following the investigation into Christian Horner and a public pursuit from Mercedes as they search for a replacement for Lewis Hamilton.

In the latest show of interest from Red Bull’s rivals, Mercedes-Benz chairman Ola Kallenius told Sky Germany at last week’s Spanish GP that Verstappen “would look good in silver”, although team boss and co-owner Toto Wolff subsequently said there were not any ongoing talks with the triple world champion.

Horner has repeatedly said that there was no doubt Verstappen would remain with Red Bull but, with the rumours about 2025 never having completely gone away, Verstappen was asked ahead of this weekend’s Austrian GP whether he wanted to finally put the speculation to bed once and for all by confirming he was staying put.

“I think I’ve said this before. Naturally, of course, people are talking but it’s most important just that we just have a very competitive car for the future,” said Verstappen, who is leading this year’s world championship by 69 points.

“At the moment, of course, it is very tight but we are working very well as a team to try and improve more.

“For sure, I said this already with the team, we are working and focusing also on next year to try and be competitive again.”