Will Max Verstappen ever make a transfer? During his ninth season with Red Bull, various rumors circulated suggesting that the Dutch World Champion is considering a move. Amid the scandal surrounding Christian Horner, Mercedes showed great interest, while Aston Martin also seemed to be in the running. However, Verstappen dismissed these speculations after the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
“Toto Wolff has been very nice to me lately,” Verstappen joked earlier this season. He wasn’t wrong; the Austrian team boss of Mercedes frequently praised the 27-year-old driver in the media. While the scandal surrounding Christian Horner revealed a power struggle within Red Bull, Wolff seemed to be trying to pry Verstappen away from his biggest competitor. Wolff himself was looking for a replacement for Lewis Hamilton, who had chosen to transfer to Ferrari early in the season.
In a year-end interview with Viaplay, the four-time world champion was reminded of Wolff’s praises. “I understood him, you always want to have the fastest driver in your car,” Verstappen joked confidently. “They also had a lot going on; they had to choose a new driver. And of course, the big teams are the most interesting to me. But I’m already in a very big team. We’ve achieved a lot of success together, and it also feels like a second family.
Looking Beyond Formula 1
Max Verstappen explained that he wouldn’t make a transfer lightly, despite the internal tensions at Red Bull earlier this year. “These are considerations that you can’t make hastily,” said the Limburger. “It’s not like you wake up one day and say, ‘Yes, next year it’s over.’ I’m not someone who quickly jumps from one thing to another. You have to think carefully about whether you want to take such a step.”
“However, you always talk to each other, and I must honestly admit that we did sit down together,” Verstappen revealed. “They were very constructive conversations, but I am very loyal to my own team. I feel at home there, so at this moment there is not much to gain from the competition. Fortunately, I am still young, so a lot can change in the future. But in doing so, I also look beyond Formula 1. Who are the right partners afterwards? These are things I think about, but luckily I don’t have to make a decision about that yet,” he concluded.
