Verstappen Confirms He Won't Leave Red Bull As Long As Everything Stays As It Is

Thursday, 18 April 2024 at 23:00

Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen confirmed he plans to stay with his current team at least until the end of his contract under one condition.

The triple World Champion has been with the Red Bull family ever since he graduated from F3. Helmut Marko and Franz Tost secured him a seat in the Red Bull-owned Toro Rosso (now RB) team in 2015 and moved him up into Red Bull Racing just a year later.

Ever since 2016, the Dutchman has raced for and achieved all of his success (3 Championship titles, 57 wins, and 101 podiums) with the team from Milton Keynes.

The 26-year-old's bond with Red Bull seemed so strong that his manager hinted he might become the first driver to go through his whole career with a single team (although Toro Rosso is practically a different team).

However, Verstappen's relationship with Red Bull hit a rocky period during the start of this season amid the power struggle and tense situation inside the team.

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The triple World Champion, loyal to Marko, even warned he might leave the team if the 80-year-old had to, which sent a clear message to the remaining teams in the paddock that his contract, which lasts until 2028, is not totally set in stone.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff wanted to take advantage of the situation by offering the Flying Dutchman a very lucrative deal.

However, Verstappen is currently set in the fastest car on the grid, and since the situation inside his team seemingly calmed down, he suggests he has no reason to leave. He told the media in Shanghai:

"I signed after '21, I signed a long deal with the team. The only thing that I always said from the beginning is, of course, that you want to have a quiet, peaceful environment."

"I do think, lately we have been talking about the cars. I'm very happy about that. We are talking about the performance of the car, that's also how it should be. And of course, as long as I'm happy with the team there's never been a reason to leave."