Even though Verstappen has a contract with Red Bull until 2028 and a really good car, people started questioning if he would stay with the team. The team had some problems that were hidden for a while, but they became clear this year.
Verstappen said before that he wanted to stay with Red Bull if everything stayed the same. But now, one important person from the team, Adrian Newey, is leaving. This made people wonder about Verstappen’s plans. Verstappen said Newey leaving isn’t as big a deal as it seems.
There were rumors that Mercedes offered Verstappen 150 million euros per year to join them. But Verstappen said that money isn’t the most important thing for him. He cares more about doing well in races.
He said, “Even if I got offered a lot of money, it’s not the main reason I would switch teams. I already make enough money, I care about doing well in races.”
Verstappen is expected to win his fourth title in 2024. If he leaves Red Bull for Mercedes, he might not have a chance to win in 2025 because Mercedes hasn’t been doing as well this season.
Verstappen said, “If I’m not fighting for the top spots, I’m not happy. So, it’s always about doing well in races. Everyone knows that, including Toto Wolff [Mercedes boss]. Right now, I plan to stay with Red Bull.”
When asked about Wolff talking about him possibly replacing Lewis Hamilton, Verstappen said, “I think it’s normal for people to be hopeful about the future. But for now, I want to stick with Red Bull because I believe in what we’re doing together. But in sports and life, you never know what will happen next.”
