Horner tells Verstappen to stay put at Red Bull

CHRISTIAN HORNER is confident that star driver Max Verstappen intends to remain with Red Bull next year.

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But he’s issued a warning to the Dutchman the grass is not always greener on the other side amid speculation he could join rivals Mercedes.

Four-time world champion Verstappen looks set to lose his crown this season, with Red Bull unable to compete with a dominant McLaren.

And at Silverstone on Thursday he declined to state definitively he will drive for Red Bull next year.

Verstappen has clauses in his deal which might allow him to leave but, on the eve of today's qualifying, team boss Horner said: "With any driver's contract, there is an element of a performance mechanism and, of course, that exists in Max's contract.

"His intention is that he will be there and driving for us in 2026. It's inevitable he's of huge interest to any other team. Inevitably there will always be speculation.