Max Verstappen is contracted with Red Bull Racing until 2028, but his future was not entirely certain this year, with some behind-the-scenes turmoil among Red Bull executives.
Max Verstappen admitted he had doubts about his future at Red Bull amid internal disputes within the team.
The 2024 season brought further success for the Dutch driver, who won his fourth consecutive F1 title. But they were forced to do so amid internal turmoil, especially early in the season.
Team principal Christian Horner fought allegations of inappropriate conduct and was later cleared, but other teams used the opportunity to try to oust him. Verstappen’s father, José, has been his most vocal critic, but his long-time advisor Helmut Marko has also been at odds with Verstappen for some time.
During the second race of the year in Saudi Arabia, Marko said he thought he would be banned straight away, to which Verstappen made it clear who he belonged to by threatening to follow the Austrian to the exit door if he was pushed towards it. His resolve was never tested as Marko was not given his marching orders and tensions with Horner later died down.
Verstappen has stuck with the team for 2025 and once again says he has no current interest in joining another outfit. But in an interview with De Telegraaf, the four-time F1 champion was adamant that it was not an empty threat and that he would have been prepared to carry it out if Marko had been standing at the door. “I think I’ve made my point of view clear,” he said.
“I think what I said then was important too. That’s exactly what I meant to say — it was not a bluff and the team knows that.”
“Did I have any doubts about my future at Red Bull at that stage? Well, I wasn’t quite 100 percent sure. 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. I’m not.
It took his father longer to rekindle his relationship with Horner. “My dad understands the big picture very quickly,” Verstappen said. “And that certain events that happen will have an impact on my future and the team’s future. Some outsiders may not realise this.”
But there were some small signs that there was at least a channel of communication between former F1 driver Joe and Horner. And Max told Mirror Sport in an interview at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that relations are improving on that front.
“I can’t imagine this relationship getting any worse,” he said. “Today, everyone communicates.” I don’t know if you’ve seen this before, but my father is also in communication with Christians, and they are doing well. Of course, they have their differences. But you can always talk about it and you can find a middle ground.\”
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