Max Verstappen is treading carefully when it comes to discussing the internal turmoil at Red Bull this season. Being a three-time World Champion, he knows his words carry significant weight.
Red Bull conducted an internal investigation into team principal Christian Horner after allegations of inappropriate behavior surfaced from an employee, claims that Horner has consistently denied. Verstappen’s father, Jos, had expressed concern earlier this month, fearing that Red Bull was ‘in danger of falling apart’ following the announcement that Adrian Newey would leave the team in early 2025. Despite this, Verstappen Jr. insists there is no conflict between his father and Horner, even though their opinions may sometimes differ.
There was also speculation about Verstappen’s future with Red Bull earlier in the season, with rumors suggesting that Mercedes might approach him to replace Lewis Hamilton next year. While these rumors have quieted down, especially with Verstappen’s contract extending until 2028, he still focuses on his primary role – racing and performance.
Verstappen addressed these issues, saying, ‘The more I talk about it, the more people have to write. You write it down, you make a story out of it and people will pick up little things and it becomes a massive shit storm. You know what I mean? I tell you a story that might get translated to Spanish, Dutch, whatever. The more I say about it is not going to help the situation.’
He added, ‘I would rather not have these stories, these things going on within the team. We just have to deal with it and move on from it. I am contracted to the team to do my job, that’s performance, that’s what I am focused on. I am not a politician, I am not someone who likes to be political. I just focus on the performance with the people around me, try to distract myself from, let’s say, the negative.’
Currently, Verstappen leads the World Championship by 31 points after the Monaco Grand Prix, aiming for his fourth consecutive title. If successful, he would join Sebastian Vettel as the second Red Bull driver to achieve this feat.
Verstappen continues to focus on his performance, trying to avoid the off-track drama that comes with being a top driver. With his eyes set on another championship, he remains dedicated to his team and his role.
Source: Planetf1
