The quadruple world champion Max Verstappen has not been stressed by generalized speculation in recent months that he could leave Red Bull Racing for Mercedes in 2026.
In fact, he said “it was very, very simple” to make the decision to stay with Red Bull. He is under contract until the Formula 1,2028 season, but had a potential exit clause based on his championship points which ended up not being triggered.
“I only say what I mean,” said Verstappen to ESPN in a report published on Friday. “And I have never even been stressed about this because … of course, of course, you always want to win. But at the same time, you just work on performance.
“People always offer stories or ask questions. But for me, it was all the time all the time.”
For someone in an intense profession, this affair did not put it in constraint.
“I think that in general, I am a person who is still quite relaxed on this subject,” said Verstappen, 27.
“I just live my life, you know, I see what is happening next. For me, there is nothing wrong with talking or listening (offers) or other, but everything was under control.”
What was not under his control was the declarations coming from the boss of Mercedes Toto Wolff, who, in the words of Verstappen, has a good relationship with the driver. Wolff was openly interested in the possibility of signing Verstappen, even holding negotiations for extending contracts with the star driver of Mercedes, George Russell.
This did not help that social media has become viral with images of Wolff and Verstappen spend time together on a yacht this summer. The two were on vacation in Sardinia.
“There is no secret,” said Verstappen. “I mean, I even went to lunch with Toto and the family and I think it’s absolutely authorized. It is not even that you are talking about Formula 1, it’s just life. We parked by each other because we were in the same bay to sleep and during the day, everyone did their thing.
“But sometimes you meet and you have a good relationship with people. I think it’s good, that it’s not just a question of competition.”
Verstappen is third in the drivers’ classification with 187 points, dragging Oscar Piastri (284) and Lando Norris (275), both from McLaren.
The exit clause would have allowed him to leave Red Bull at the end of the 2025 season if he was fourth or less after the Hungarian Grand Prix on August 3, ESPN reported.
Verstappen has two victories and five podiums this year. In his career, the figures are respectively 65 and 117. He won two-digit victories of 2021-23 with 10, 15 and 19.
The Dutchman is in the Netherlands this week for the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday.
– field level media
