What Max Verstappen has to say about Ferrari, Red Bull Racing and his future

Rumours about Max Verstappen’s future have been rife over recent months and years; time and again, he has been linked with a move to Mercedes, whilst at times the rumour mill also speculated that he might be heading to McLaren. The speculation came to an end when the Dutchman announced his contract extension with Red Bull Racing just in time for his home race at Zandvoort.

This had nothing to do with the team’s plans for updates, which had recently led to a boost in performance, as Verstappen emphasised on the sidelines of the Singapore street circuit: “No, not really,” the 72-time Grand Prix winner dismissed the question of whether he had known that the latest updates would be so good and whether this had influenced his decision.

“It was more about discussing the future and how the team envisages improving. And I liked that. They didn’t have to convince me; it’s more about a fundamental discussion you have with the team. And it’s really been a pleasure working with this team so far. And, of course, the progress we’ve made recently is a nice bonus. Because, naturally, it’s more fun to be fighting at the top,” revealed the Red Bull Racing star.

Red Bull Racing is Max Verstappen’s second family

In a recent interview with the Press Association, he also spoke about the possibility of one day lining up on the grid in Ferrari colours. And Verstappen made it clear: “I just want to win and I’m not the nostalgic type. Of course, I have a lot of respect for the Ferrari brand. But if that means fighting for fifth or sixth place, then the question is: what would be the point? For me, it’s all about performance, and I’ve already won a lot with my team. For me, Red Bull Racing is like a second family, and the challenge of getting back to the top together is what drives me.”

The 29-year-old also spoke about how long he intends to remain in Formula 1. And he emphasised once again: he doesn’t want to drive for as long as the 45-year-old veteran Fernando Alonso, who will still be in the GP circus at the age of 46. “That would mean dedicating more than half my life to Formula 1, and that’s probably a bit too long. I’ve extended my contract by a few years, and when the deal nears its end, I’ll ask myself whether I can continue to commit 100 per cent to the sport. If not, or if there are other things that are enjoyable and require more time, then I might not carry on. I also want to spend more time at home and watch the children grow up,” said Verstappen.

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