Three-time world champion Max Verstappen reaffirmed his commitment to Red Bull on Thursday, stating his intention to fulfill his contract despite recent upheavals off the track.
Verstappen, who holds a contract with Red Bull until 2028, hinted at the possibility of considering other options if Red Bull were to part ways with his longtime mentor, Helmut Marko. This speculation arose amidst internal power struggles within the team.
The situation escalated when Jos Verstappen, Max’s father, voiced concerns earlier this month, suggesting that Red Bull could face significant internal discord if Christian Horner, the team boss, remained in his role.
Horner had been embroiled in allegations of inappropriate behavior with a female colleague, although he was subsequently cleared of any wrongdoing before the start of the season in Bahrain.
Addressing inquiries at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne regarding his commitment to Red Bull, Verstappen asserted, “Of course, that is why I signed the contract in the first place.
“For sure, with the deal in place, that is my intention, to be here until the end.
“It would be a great story for me to see it out till the end because it would mean I’ve been part of one family and one team.
“I always felt comfortable (in Red Bull) because for me it is like a second family, it’s good.”
Max Verstappen, aged 26, has had his career guided by 80-year-old Marko, emphasizing the significance of maintaining a team structure that has yielded substantial success.
“I feel we all want the same, we all want to perform on the track, that’s what we want to focus on as a team,” he stated.
“In general, when you have a successful team, when you have a good group of central people, it is important to keep them together and happy and in the same roles.”
Max Verstappen’s implied warning about potentially departing from Red Bull caught the attention of Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. Wolff is in search of a replacement for next season, following Lewis Hamilton’s departure to Ferrari.
Verstappen expressed appreciation for the interest, stating, “It’s always nice to hear that.” However, he admitted uncertainty about what the future holds beyond 2028.
“I don’t know after 2028 what happens, if I am going to continue, sign a new deal, I don’t know.”
Verstappen showcased his dominance in the initial two races of the season held in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, extending his winning streak to nine races.
If he secures victory in Australia, he will match his record of winning 10 consecutive races.
Sergio Perez, who finished as the runner-up to his teammate in the first two races, expressed his desire for Verstappen to stay, emphasizing that the team is currently in a very strong position.
“To achieve that it takes a lot of years,” he stated.
“Everyone in the team is working well together now, the whole engineering team is united. You can see that on the track and how efficient we have been in the last years.
“So I don’t see any reason to change it and it will obviously be a blow if Max were to leave.”
