As a result of the events surrounding Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, a farewell to three-time world champion Max Verstappen from the Austrian Formula 1 racing team no longer seemed out of the question. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff commented meaningfully on an end to the F1 dream marriage between the Red Bulls and the Dutchman and a move to the Silver Arrows with the words: “Everything is possible.” Now Verstappen himself has clearly smoothed things over.
In an interview with Sky Sports UK, Max Verstappen did not completely rule out the possibility of turning his back on Red Bull at the end of the Formula 1 season, but the 26-year-old admitted: “Things must be going really crazy. ”
A change is also “not our goal”. And further: “I know what they have done for me in my career. The intention is absolutely to stay with this team.”
Verstappen is contractually bound to Red Bull until 2028, recently celebrated three F1 titles in a row with the team and seems to have a car again in 2024 that leaves little to be desired and is miles superior to the competition.
The fact that rumors of a separation arose is primarily due to team boss Christian Horner. The Brit is accused of behaving inappropriately towards a Red Bull employee. After Horner was initially exonerated as a result of a supposedly independent investigation, messages spread by an anonymous source that Horner allegedly sent to the employee in question fueled the case again.
That’s what Verstappen says about his father’s attack
Jos Verstappen, Max Verstappen’s father, clearly distanced himself from Horner in an interview with the “Daily Mail” after the F1 opener in Bahrain, complained that he was playing “the victim” and predicted that the racing team would be put to the test. Max Verstappen, for his part, has so far avoided questions on the subject.
On Wednesday, however, the F1 superstar explained: The constant discussions are “not good” for the team and, besides, he is his father’s son: “It would be strange if I were on a different side.” However, his focus is solely on racing.
Verstappen had confidently won the opening race in Bahrain the previous week. He was also unimpressed by the rumors about a possible move to Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton’s successor. “In life you never know 100 percent what will happen. But I don’t think about it too much,” said Verstappen.