Four-time Formula One champion Max Verstappen dismisses Red Bull exit fears

JEDDAH – Max Verstappen has brushed aside fears of a possible Red Bull exit, saying on April 17 that he is “just focusing on driving”.

The notion of the four-time world champion walking away was raised by the team’s adviser Helmut Marko, who told Sky Germany that he had “great concern” Verstappen could find another team unless Red Bull upped their game.

He was speaking in the aftermath of last weekend’s disappointment in Bahrain where Verstappen could finish only sixth, three places ahead of his new teammate Yuki Tsunoda, behind a dominant show by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.

Asked specifically to comment on Marko’s fears ahead of this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Verstappen replied: “I’m just focusing on driving and don’t think about any other scenarios.

“I just keep working, keep trying to improve the car. Naturally, Bahrain wasn’t a great weekend for us. I think we were all pretty disappointed with that.

“We just keep on trying to improve the car, come up with new ideas to try on the car. That’s how I go about my weeks, trying to improve the situation.”

The Dutchman has previously been linked with the likes of Mercedes, Ferrari and Aston Martin, where Red Bull’s former legendary designer Adrian Newey has joined forces with Fernando Alonso.

But Verstappen was not rising to the bait, adding: “A lot of people are talking about it, except me.

“Like I said before, I just want to focus on my car, work with the people in the team. That’s the only thing that I’m thinking about in Formula One at the moment.

“I am happy. I am not very happy with my car, but we all want to be better – there is no secret in that. We all want to improve... I’m very relaxed.”

Verstappen and Red Bull are looking for a change of fortune at Jeddah’s high-speed street circuit where he has won in 2024 and 2022.

“We’re still trying things with the car,” the 27-year-old reiterated.

“Are there things that we can improve? We’re constantly trying to improve the car, I guess. And that’s what we’ll try to do again this weekend. How much we can fix it here, I don’t know.”

Alonso, appearing alongside Verstappen at the press conference, said the rumours linking the Dutchman with Aston Martin were “very good for the team”.

“This says a lot about the project that we at Aston have and the future that this team has,” he said. “Would I welcome Max as a teammate? Yes, but it’s unlikely to happen. Very unlikely!”

The Spaniard, 43, also set a date on his retirement, saying he will not be behind the wheel “at 50”.

“Not at 50 for sure,” he said. “After 2026, I don’t know – I will go season by season, see how motivated I am. Right now, I am very motivated. Let’s do it until the 2026 season and then we’ll sit and talk, and check what is the best for the team.”

Red Bull will be counting on upcoming improvements down the road to their 2025 car to bring it closer in pace to McLaren, who have won three of the four races so far this season to take a healthy lead in the team standings.

Verstappen’s one bright spot so far this campaign came in Japan, where he produced a superb qualifying performance to take pole and the win in Suzuka.

“I just go race by race. I think it will be better than Bahrain. The rest is out of my hands,” he said.

“At the moment, we are not the quickest so it is tough to fight for a championship, but it is a long road.

“Last year, it all looked great and we know how the season ended up...” he added, referring to how Red Bull hit a mid-season wall before turning things around to clinch his fourth title. AFP, REUTERS