The Dutch world champion comments on speculation about a farewell to Red Bull – and a move to his big rival in Formula 1.
Formula 1 and Red Bull just can’t calm down at the moment. In the wake of the constant new developments at the racing team surrounding the allegations against team boss Christian Horner, the future of world champion Max Verstappen has now come into focus – according to reports, there could be a risk of the Dutchman saying goodbye and even a move to rival Mercedes if the situation at the Austrian team were to change Team cannot be finally solved. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff also commented on a possible sensational change after the first race of the season in Bahrain – and said meaningfully: “Everything is possible” – and Sky expert Ralf Schumacher then even suspected: “They are already in negotiations” (more on this read here).
Now the reigning and three-time world champion has spoken out himself – and has at least not completely ruled out leaving Red Bull at the end of the season. “Things would have to be really crazy,” he said in an interview with Sky Sports UK on Wednesday. But this is “not our goal”. It is “still my intention to stay with the team.”
Verstappen (26) has a lucrative contract with Red Bull until the end of 2028. In response to public questions about how he feels about his team boss Christian Horner, who a Red Bull employee had accused of “inappropriate behavior”, the Dutchman recently said innocuous, little words concrete answers. The constant discussions were “not good” for the team, he explained on Wednesday.
The connection to Mercedes is obvious. For the coming season, the former world champion team is finally looking for a successor to record champion Lewis Hamilton, who has signed with Ferrari in 2025.
“I’m sure Max is on the list”
Hamilton expressed a clear opinion in Saudi Arabia. “I’m sure Max is on the list at Mercedes. But I’m also pretty sure he’s tied to Red Bull and I don’t see why you should leave a car that’s so good. ” However, Hamilton (39) believes that “the next few months will be very interesting”.
Verstappen has defended the role of his own father Jos in the debate about Christian Horner’s future as Red Bull team boss. Jos Verstappen is definitely “not a liar,” emphasized the Dutchman on Wednesday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Verstappen senior recently called for the controversial Horner to resign, otherwise the world champion racing team could plunge into chaos.
“The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can’t go on like this, it will explode,” Jos Verstappen told the English Daily Mail. Horner plays “the victim, even though he is the one causing the problems.” According to the Daily Mail, Horner believes that Jos Verstappen has launched a campaign to force him out of office. The Dutchman rejected this. “That wouldn’t make any sense. Why would I do that when Max is doing so well here?”
In Saudi Arabia, Verstappen once again emphasized the special relationship with his father, with whom he speaks on the phone “every day”. Nevertheless, his statements about Horner have not been an issue in the past few days. “I didn’t ask him about it,” said Verstappen: “My father is very open-hearted, he’s not a liar, that’s for sure.”