Formula 1 News: Verstappen will NOT leave Red Bull team

Despite the controversy surrounding Red Bull team boss Christian Horner and Jos Verstappen over a blonde bombshell and Horner’s rumored attempt to buy the Red Bull F1 team, Max Verstappen sees no reason to leave the team.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

The Dutchman’s place at the Milton Keynes-based squad has been the subject of intense speculation recently after his father Jos publicly criticized team principal Horner and called for him to go.

Facing the media in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, Verstappen played down talk of any personal unease he had with the situation at Red Bull.

Max Verstappen surrounded by media in Jeddah Wednesday. He would have to be an idiot to leave a team where Adrian Newey is leading the design team!

Asked if he was sure that he would see out his Red Bull contract, which runs until 2028, Verstappen said: “That has, of course, always been the intention of signing. That’s why we signed so long to be here.

“And of course, it’s about the performance of the car and from 2026 onwards, that is a bit of a question mark with new regulations,” said Verstappen.

“But I knew that, when I signed my contract, I also know what they have done for me in my career, right? So yeah, the intention is, of course, absolutely, to stay with this team, because I really enjoy it.

“And I’m also really happy within the team. So as long as we perform there is no reason also to leave.

“I think no one would have ever realized or seen that Lewis would move to Ferrari,” Verstappen added.

“In life in general, you never know what happens or what comes to you, or whatever happens around you, or what might influence you.

“So you can never say 100%, that’s how it’s going to be. I approach my life like that.

“But I also don’t think about it too much. I’m very relaxed. Like I said, I’m very happy with the team. The performance is there. There’s no reason to leave.”

Dr. Helmut Marko Not Talking

And asked by OE24 whether there is any truth to the claim that Jos is already in talks with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, Marko replied: “You won’t get any comment from me on that.”

F1-Insider.com recently reported that Verstappen has a clause in his Red Bull contract allowing him to leave the team if Marko does, but this suggestion was not getting much out of Marko either, other than affirming that a huge level of “trust” exists between he and the three-time World Champion.

“I’m sticking to my ‘No Comment!’ here as well,” Marko stressed. “The fact is that there is a great relationship of trust between Max and me.”

As for the controversy surrounding Horner, “I won’t say anything about that until the case is finally closed,” said Marko, who after being reminded that the Red Bull investigation into Horner is now concluded, followed up with: “Okay, then I’ve expressed myself wrong. So let’s stick with ‘No Comment!’”