Formula 1 world champion
Verstappen’s declaration of intent: “I’m happy” at Red Bull
Feels comfortable at Red Bull: Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen. photo
© Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/AP
The speculation about Max Verstappen’s Formula 1 future continues. Is the Christian Horner case driving him to Mercedes? The world champion is trying to calm the situation down a little.
“I intend to stay here until the end because it would be a great story,” said the 26-year-old in the Melbourne paddock before the Australian Grand Prix.
According to the media, a power struggle is raging at Red Bull. On the one hand, there are the Thai majority owners, who continue to support team boss Horner after a scandal. On the other hand, there is the Austrian side of the beverage group around the heirs of co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz, who died in 2022.
Anonymous emails with juicy details
In the Horner case, an employee accused the Brit of inappropriate behavior. After an internal investigation, the complaint was dismissed. However, anonymous emails with juicy details were then sent to journalists and Formula 1 officials, putting the 50-year-old under pressure again. The Red Bull employee has reportedly now filed a complaint with the world motorsport association FIA about its behavior.
Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko, who is a confidante of Verstappen and is seen as Horner’s adversary, was suspected of being the source of the data leak. There was even a temporary release from work for the 80-year-old. Marko’s contract with Red Bull runs until the end of 2026. If he still has to leave the team early, Verstappen could also get out of his contract earlier thanks to a contract clause.
Mercedes is courting Verstappen
“It is very important that we try to keep the key figures in the team over a longer period of time, because that is where the performance can be found,” said Verstappen, who won the first two races of the year. “I’m happy in the team,” assured the 56-time Grand Prix winner.
Verstappen has been linked with a move to Mercedes in 2025. The Silver Arrows are looking for a successor to record world champion Lewis Hamilton (39), who is moving to Ferrari next season. “I would love to have him,” Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said recently.
Red Bull doesn’t want to force Verstappen to stay
Verstappen thinks that’s “nice to hear.” But that has no influence on his decisions. Could he imagine switching to Mercedes one day? “I don’t know. I don’t know what will happen after 2028. I don’t know whether I’ll stay in Formula 1 or sign a new contract,” he said.
But Red Bull does not want to force its star driver to fulfill his contract. “If someone doesn’t want to work in this team, then we won’t force anyone to work here against their will,” team boss Horner said in Saudi Arabia.