Nelson Piquet Jr, a figure closely connected to Max Verstappen, believes the quadruple world champion will remain with Red Bull for the 2026 Formula 1 season before making a definitive decision about his future.
Verstappen has been heavily linked with potential moves to Mercedes or Aston Martin, driven by Red Bull's recent performance struggles and internal turmoil, particularly as the sport braces for sweeping new regulations in 2026.
However, Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff expressed confidence in Saudi Arabia, stating he is "convinced" that the 27-year-old Verstappen will "continue the long journey he's taken" with the team next year.
Echoing this sentiment, Nelson Piquet Jr, the brother of Verstappen's pregnant girlfriend Kelly, offered his perspective.
"He will make a decision in the middle of 2026 as to what he wants to do," the Brazilian said.
Piquet, 39, son of triple world champion Nelson Piquet Sr and infamous for his role in the 2008 'crashgate' scandal, shared his insights on the Pelas Pistas podcast.
He suggested that Verstappen's decision will hinge on the competitive landscape in 2026. "Let's suppose that Mercedes starts 2026 with a huge gap like they did at the start of the hybrid era in 2014," he said.
"For the other teams to recover, it will take at least two to three seasons."
He believes Verstappen will evaluate his options from within Red Bull's cockpit during the 2026 season before committing to his next move.
"Max will make his decision about his future in mid-2026, but he will announce it at the end of the season," Piquet declared, indicating that Verstappen will take a measured approach to the next phase of his career amid the uncertainties of the new regulatory era.
