TAKING THE RED BULL BY THE HORN

Boss tackles Max's future head on as rumours swirl

- DANIEL MOXON

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

But he also took the opportunity to warn the Dutchman that the grass is not always greener on the other side, amid speculation he could quit for rivals Mercedes.

Four-time Formula One champion Verstappen, whose future has dominated the buildup to tomorrow's British Grand Prix, looks set to lose his crown this year with Red Bull unable to compete with dominant force McLaren.

And at Silverstone on Thursday he declined to state definitively that he will drive for Red Bull Racing in 2026.

Red Bull concede that Verstappen has contract clauses which might allow him to leave, but team boss Horner (inset) said yesterday he has "clarity" over his driver's situation.

He said: "With any driver's contract, there is an element of a performance mechanism and, of course, that exists within Max's contract.