Max Verstappen has been at the center of rumors lately, which he has finally chosen to deny. ‘I have a long-term contract with the team’, Verstappen said about Red Bull. For some time now, Mercedes CEO Ola Kallenius has been talking about an opening for the Dutchman to join his team. Kallenius is convinced that the money he is offering Max Verstappen is indeed likely to convince him to sign a contract, and therefore assures that “the cards have been reshuffled“.
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As a reminder, Max Verstappen is signed to race with the Red Bull team until the end of 2028. However, this hasn’t prevented speculation about his future in Formula 1. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said he would “love” to recruit the three-time world champion to his team.
The team re-signed 25-year-old George Russell in August 2023, until 2025. As his team-mate, the famous Lewis Hamilton, signed for Ferrari in February 2024, ending an 11-year partnership with Mercedes, a seat remains vacant with the Silver Arrows.
One potential candidate would be the young Italian Andrea Kimi Antonelli, despite the current desire to lure Max Verstappen to the team.
‘I have a long-term contract with the team’
Max Verstappen chose to set the record straight and silence any speculation about his contract. As he is under contract with the Red Bull team until 2028, the Dutchman assured the media that leaving well before that deadline was not something he was planning.
He quoted at the microphone before the Austrian Grand Prix weekend :
“I don’t think that’s how Formula 1 works, where suddenly you can say, ‘Bye guys,’” he answered. “That’s not how it works. I have a long contract with the team, I’m very happy where I’m at.
Max Verstappen’s comments on Red Bull Racing’s efforts in this area once again clarified his future. “Like I said before, we are focusing already on next year with things that we can implement on the car, so I guess that should say enough for where I’m driving next year.”
The Dutchman’s intentions therefore seem clear, and it will be interesting to see whether this will put the brakes on the approaches made by Mercedes, who still seem visibly upset at their failure to attract Max Verstappen.
Competition with McLaren under close scrutiny
At the same press conference, Max Verstappen was confronted with a seemingly inevitable question about the challenge of being the fastest on the track between McLaren and Red Bull Racing.
Indeed, the papaya squad has significantly reduced its delay since the beginning of the season, chaining podiums alongside Red Bull.
“Obviously there are people talking, but the most important thing is that we have a competitive car in the future,” Verstappen said. “ At the moment, the gaps are very close but, as a team, we are working very well to improve our equipment.”
These are the statements to be observed with the Sprint format coming back this weekend in Austria. This means that teams and drivers will only have one free practice session at their disposal. Verstappen seems optimistic for this Red Bull home race. He hopes for a bit more pace than in Barcelona.
Will it be enough for the team, whose speed gaps with McLaren are increasingly leading?
Photo credit: Red Bull Content Pool
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