Max is sitting Bull
Verstappen pledges allegiance to championship team
Max Verstappen again publicly committed his long-term future to Red Bull ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, saying that as long as he was happy there was “no reason to leave”.
There has been speculation the triple world champion could move to Mercedes to replace Ferraribound Lewis Hamilton next year after Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was accused of inappropriate conduct towards a female colleague.
Horner was cleared of any wrongdoing ahead of the seasonopener in Bahrain.
Dutchman Verstappen is signed with Red Bull until 2028, but suggested earlier in the season that he would consider leaving if the team parted company with long-time mentor Helmut Marko.
Verstappen’s father Jos has claimed that Red Bull faced being “torn apart” if Horner remained in position.
However, the paddock chatter in Shanghai this week has been firmly back on racing, something that pleased Verstappen.
“After 2021 I signed a long deal with the team. The only thing I said from the beginning was that I wanted to have a quiet, peaceful environment,” Verstappen said.
“Lately we have been talking about the car, so I am very happy about that already. That’s also how it should be. And of course as long as I am happy with the team, there has never been a reason to leave.” Verstappen is chasing a fourth victory in five races in 2024, but admitted the weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix would be an unknown quantity. The Formula One circus is back at the Shanghai International Circuit for the first time in five years, with a sprint race on Saturday. “With the new cars, of course there will be a little bit of the unknown,” Verstappen said. “It is the same for everyone.” Seven-time world champion Hamilton said he was shutting out the noise surrounding his move to Ferrari, saying he didn’t need “vindicating” that it was right for him.
The 39-year-old shocked Formula One in February when he said he would leave Mercedes at the end of 2024 after 12 years to join the Italian team.
Hamilton was asked if Ferrari’s strong start to the season, it has been consistently closest to the dominant Red Bulls, meant the decision to switch had been justified.
“I don’t feel like I need my decision vindicating,” he said.
“I know what was right for me, and that hasn’t changed since the moment that I made the decision.”
CHINESE F1 GRAND PRIX SUNDAY 4.55PM
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