Overview

• Verified photos show Verstappen aboard Wolff’s Mangusta yacht in Cala di Volpe, renewing transfer speculation.
• Verstappen publicly confirmed he will race for Red Bull in 2026, quashing immediate Mercedes move rumors.
• His contract extends through 2028 and includes performance-linked exit clauses, one of which expired untriggered at the summer break.
• Mercedes is expected to retain George Russell and Kimi Antonelli for 2026 as it monitors Verstappen’s contractual flexibility.
• Earlier images of Wolff at Verstappen’s private jet were debunked as fakes, highlighting the importance of media verification.