MIAMI – Three-time Formula One world champion Max Verstappen said on May 2 that Red Bull was his home, but then closed his meeting with the media at the Miami Grand Prix by teasing that you never know what life holds.
With top designer and chief technical officer Adrian Newey having announced earlier this week he was leaving in 2025, Verstappen seemed to put an end to mounting speculation that he too was listening to offers, declaring that his future was with Red Bull.
Reports have linked the Dutchman to a move to Mercedes, who are looking for a replacement, with Lewis Hamilton set to join Ferrari at the end of the season.
But Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has knocked back speculation about a meeting with Verstappen’s management after this weekend’s Miami race, while the man himself also brushed aside rumours by suggesting that not even €250 million (S$363.2 million) would tempt him away from Red Bull.
Before departing, though, Verstappen opened the door to a move just a crack, teasing “you should never say never”.
“My future is with Red Bull,” he declared. “Money is not going to be a differentiator for me to go somewhere.
“I’m happy with what I’m earning right now. It’s about performance. It’s always about performance at the end of the day.
“At the moment, I can say that I want to stay with the team because I believe in the project. But at the end of the day, in sports, but also in life, you never know what’s going to happen in the future.”
If performance is the currency to acquire Verstappen’s services, then no team on the starting grid are richer than Red Bull. Despite a season of turmoil and scandal, their dominance has continued unabated.
Internal divisions resulting from a female employee’s allegations of misconduct against team boss Christian Horner, for which he was cleared, have been a distraction, as has Newey’s imminent departure.
But on the track Red Bull have remained unchallenged, with Verstappen winning four of the five races this season.
“It is always very important to remain calm and focused on your job,” he added.
“At the end of the day, we need to have the fastest car. That’s what I have always demanded. So, basically, at the moment everyone is very focused on what we have to do.”
Meanwhile, Hamilton added fuel to the rumours over the future of Newey, saying that the 65-year-old would be an “amazing addition” for his future team Ferrari.
Media reports have suggested that Ferrari would be among the favourites to snap up Newey, and Hamilton said that he too would like to see his fellow Briton join the Italian outfit.
“Adrian’s got such a great history, track record. He’s just done an amazing job through his career in engaging with teams and the knowledge that he has,” he said.
“He would be an amazing addition. If I were to do up a list of people I’d love to work with, he would absolutely be at the top there.”
But he disagreed with the idea that Newey’s exit would lead to a sudden decline for Red Bull.
“We need to remember that there are a lot of people in the background and it is not one person, it’s a whole team who do the job,” Hamilton said. REUTERS, AFP
