– It is no longer a secret that Max Verstappen is not exactly enjoying his time in Formula 1. Accordingly, rumors about the future of the four-time world champion continue: In addition to a possible move to a competitor, a break from the premier class is also being speculated.
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“I mean, of course I could stop at any time, that wouldn’t be a problem, but I love racing,” Verstappen clarifies before the Hungarian Grand Prix (all sessions in the live ticker!) in Budapest. A departure from Formula 1 therefore seems not to be an issue for the Dutchman for now, despite his criticism of the current regulations.
“I’m just trying to make the best of the current situation – even if I don’t really like what we have at the moment. But that’s how it is.” For Verstappen, what’s crucial is not just a car that can fight for victories, but also feeling comfortable with the overall package.
“I also feel comfortable on my part,” confirms the Dutchman, without commenting further on his future plans. “There’s nothing to say about it because nothing is happening right now. I’m just focusing on getting the best out of the car. That’s complicated enough, and that’s exactly what I’m focusing on.”
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The long-time Red Bull driver is apparently hesitant about a move to a competitor. “I mean, this team is like a second family to me,” says Verstappen, once again making a clear commitment to Red Bull, while at the same time cooling down rumors of a possible departure.
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“I’m just trying to understand our car a bit better and, of course, to win again. We were close on one weekend. I naturally hope it works out more often than just one weekend, but as I said: it’s definitely looking up, and that’s nice to see.”
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However, it’s not only Red Bull’s competitiveness that occupies the world champion. Above all, the current Formula 1 regulations remain a central topic for him. Fernando Alonso had previously expressed similar sentiments, stating that his future depended less on the performance of his Aston Martin and more on the regulations.
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“Yes, I fully agree with him; that’s not what you want,” says the Dutchman, but points to the different starting position of his Spanish colleague. “Of course, Fernando is 44 years old, so it’s probably a bit easier for him to say, ‘I’m stopping,’ because he basically has his career behind him.”
“I would love to see Fernando drive until he’s 60, but I don’t think that’s realistic in Formula 1,” says the Red Bull driver. “But as a true racing driver, it’s tough, especially, of course, when the regulations aren’t fun and you’re not competitive at the moment.”
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“That’s a difficult situation, because Fernando certainly doesn’t deserve to finish 21st. Fernando belongs at least in the top 5,” says the Dutchman, who cannot base his own future on age. “Well, I’m 28 years old, of course, so the situation is a bit different.”
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