But you’d have to “go crazy”
Verstappen does not completely rule out a Mercedes change
March 6, 2024, 8:27 p.m
The affair surrounding team boss Horner is fueling rumors about Max Verstappen’s Formula 1 future at Red Bull. The world champion only speaks plainly: He thinks the Horner affair is “not good” for the team, but would like to stay there. But Verstappen leaves a back door open.
Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen 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. But this is “not our goal”. It is “still my intention to stay with the team.”
The 26-year-old Verstappen 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 formulated innocuous, few concrete answers. He now explained that the constant discussions were “not good” for the team. But his focus is entirely on racing.
Hamilton: “Max is on Mercedes’ list”
Red Bull has dominated Formula 1 at will over the past two years, and in 2023 Verstappen won 19 of 22 Grand Prix. At the Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia (Saturday, 6 p.m. CET/Sky) in Jeddah, he is aiming for his ninth win in a row across all seasons. He only set the record (10 in a row) last year.
Recently – and especially after the Horner case gained momentum – Verstappen was primarily associated with Mercedes. For the coming season, the former world champion team is looking for a successor to record champion Lewis Hamilton, who has signed with Ferrari in 2025.
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, 39-year-old Hamilton believes that “the next few months will be very interesting.”