Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen on Thursday said that he is staying with the Red Bull team next year, ending months of speculation over his future.
“Some people just like to stir the pot, some people just like to create drama, but, for me, it’s always been quite clear, and also for next year,” the four-time champion said ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
“I’m discussing with the team already the plans — the things that we want to change for next year, so that means that I’m also staying with the team for next year,” he said.
Photo: EPA
Verstappen has a contract with Red Bull through 2028. At recent races he had deflected questions about whether he would stay with the team next year and there had been indications that a performance-related clause could allow him to exit the contract early.
The details of any clause are not public.
Mercedes driver George Russell had said he believed his team were holding talks with Verstappen, and speculation was further fueled by reports that Verstappen’s and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff’s yachts were off the Italian island of Sardinia at the same time.
“If my boat is next to Toto’s, then the boat is next to Toto’s,” Verstappen said on Thursday. “You can have a personal relationship with someone even if you don’t have a working relationship with someone.”
Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc hailed Fred Vasseur’s “vision” and cold-blooded approach after the Ferrari team principal was handed a new contract.
Ferrari said the deal for Vasseur was a sign of “trust in Fred’s leadership,” with the Italian team yet to win a Formula 1 race this year.
“In Formula 1 it takes time to build something, especially a successful team,” Leclerc said, adding that the situation had been complicated by the “hype around the team” after Lewis Hamilton’s arrival and narrowly missing out on the constructors’ championship last year.
The driver from Monaco added that Vasseur stood out for his sense of humor and his “cold blood” when Ferrari comes under pressure.
“I think what’s very difficult within Ferrari is the emotion is very much part of the daily job,” Leclerc said. “Fred really knows how to leave his emotions aside and have a clear vision of where we are at, no matter how much noise there is around the team.”
Ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Ferrari said the new deal was a “multiple-year contract,” without giving further details.
“I’m grateful for the trust Ferrari continues to place in me. This renewal is not just a confirmation — it’s a challenge to keep progressing, to stay focused and to deliver,” Vasseur said.
“Over the past 30 months, we’ve laid strong foundations, and now we must build on them with consistency and determination,” he said. “We know what’s expected, and we’re all fully committed to meeting those expectations and taking the next step forward together.”
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