Verstappen Reacts To His Earlier Red Bull Exit Threats: 'I Meant It'

Wednesday, 01 January 2025 at 17:46

Max Verstappen discussed his situation from the start of the 2024 season when he threatened to leave Red Bull Racing.

Following the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix qualifying, Red Bull Racing F1 driver Max Verstappen warned that he might leave the team if Helmut Marko was forced to exit.

Reports from Motorsport.com suggested that the 81-year-old was then subject to an internal investigation and might have been forced to leave the team from Milton Keynes.

Verstappen didn't like that, as he has been very close with Marko. It was the man from Graz who brought him to Red Bull and protected him throughout his career.

The Dutchman showed his loyalty by supporting Marko, not accepting the possibility of his potential forced exit. Reflecting on his threat to leave the Austrian team, Max Verstappen told De Telegraaf:

"I think I made it clear what I thought about it. I also think it was important that I said that then. And I meant it."

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"It wasn't a bluff. And they know that within the team too. Did I have doubts about my future at Red Bull at that stage? Well, the feeling wasn't quite 100 percent."

"There was a lot going on. But on the other hand, I don't think that if something goes wrong, you can just say: I'm leaving. That's not how I am."

At the start of the year, Red Bull had a lot going on internally, and one problem was the conflict between the Dutchman's father, Jos Verstappen, and the team principal, Christian Horner.

Verstappen Sr publicly criticized Horner multiple times, suggesting he should have resigned and that Red Bull would be "torn apart" if he stayed in his role and more.

Jos Verstappen himself then received some criticism as well from people who suggested he did not act in the interests of his son. However, Max Verstappen rejects this notion.

"But that is nonsense. My father sees the bigger picture very quickly. And that certain things that happen have an influence on the future of me and the team. Some people from outside may not see that."