Max Verstappen Dismisses Speculation About Departure from Red Bull

Four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen has downplayed concerns about his future with the Red Bull Racing team, following comments made by team advisor Helmut Marko suggesting that the Dutch driver may leave if the team fails to improve. The Milton Keynes-based squad’s RB21 car has been criticized for its challenging handling and narrow setup window, which has affected Verstappen’s performance.

Difficulties with Red Bull’s RB21 Car

Despite Verstappen’s victory in the Suzuka Grand Prix, he felt that the car struggled with grip during the Bahrain race, particularly in slower-speed corners. This, combined with a difficult race, led to a heated exchange between Verstappen’s manager Raymond Vermeulen and Marko in the garage.

Marko later told Sky Germany that there was “great concern” that Verstappen might seek opportunities elsewhere, fueling rumors of a potential move to Aston Martin to reunite with Adrian Newey. However, when asked about these speculations, Verstappen remained focused on improving the car’s performance.

I don’t know [about the rumors] – I just keep working, trying to improve the car,” he stated. “Naturally, Bahrain wasn’t a great weekend for us and I think we were all pretty disappointed. But we just keep on trying to improve the car, come up with new ideas to try on the car.

Verstappen dismissed suggestions that internal team disputes had contributed to a difficult environment, stating he was content where he was and that his issues were solely related to the car’s performance. He explained that the conversation between Vermeulen and Marko was simply an open discussion about the current situation within the team.

I am happy [at Red Bull], I’m just not very happy with, of course, our car. But that goes for everyone, we all want to be better, there’s no secret about that. That’s what we’re trying to improve.

Fernando Alonso, meanwhile, dismissed rumors linking Verstappen with a move to Aston Martin, but noted that the speculation was flattering for the team and indicative of its promising future trajectory. Alonso reaffirmed his commitment to driving as long as he feels fast and competitive.

To my knowledge, I think they were having a conversation about everything, which I think is allowed. I think we were all left frustrated with the result, with the things that went wrong in the race. And I think that’s what Raymond and Helmut spoke about, and Christian [Horner] even came along and they all had a conversation. I think that should be allowed.

We care, at the end of the day. We care about the team, we care about the people, we care about results. I think that’s quite normal.