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Max Verstappen Breaks Silence on Mercedes’ Temptation: ‘I’m Loyal, But Conversations Were Had’

Carl Smith by Carl Smith
December 17, 2024
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
Even before the Qatar race Max Verstappen throws in the towel for the constructors’ championship – “I’m done!!”

Formula One F1 - Qatar Grand Prix - Lusail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar - December 1, 2024 Red Bull's Max Verstappen ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix REUTERS/Jakub Porzycki

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen has finally spoken out about Mercedes’ attempts to lure him away from Red Bull, revealing just how close the F1 juggernaut came to shaking the grid’s foundations.


The Rumor Mill Unleashed

As Lewis Hamilton’s shocking switch to Ferrari sent shockwaves through Formula 1 earlier this year, whispers of Mercedes’ hunt for his successor echoed across the paddock. Who better to fill Hamilton’s legendary shoes than Max Verstappen—the sport’s reigning force, its four-time king, and Red Bull’s golden jewel?

Yet amid a storm of allegations, power struggles, and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff’s brazen pursuit, Verstappen has delivered a composed but candid account of how close he truly came to jumping ship.

Mercedes’ Temptation: ‘We Sat Together’

Speaking with Viaplay, Verstappen admitted the conversations with Mercedes did happen.

“Of course, we always talk to each other,” he confessed. “And I don’t lie about the fact that we sat together either. But that in itself is not a problem. I still really like where I am.”

Wolff’s admiration for Verstappen is no secret. Long before the Dutchman’s Red Bull debut in 2015, Mercedes tried—and failed—to lock him down, instead sticking with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. This time, with Hamilton exiting, Mercedes flirted heavily with Verstappen’s camp.

Wolff made it clear: “You want the fastest driver in your car.” But Verstappen, loyal to Red Bull’s empire, stood his ground.


Why Verstappen Stays: Family, Loyalty, and Legacy

Despite the chaos surrounding Red Bull—particularly the controversy around Team Principal Christian Horner and Verstappen’s father Jos’ comments of unrest—the Dutch driver remains unwavering.

“I have achieved a lot of success with Red Bull, and it just feels like a second family,” Verstappen said.

Leaving a team that nurtured him from teenager to champion isn’t an overnight decision. “It’s not like I wake up and say, ‘Yeah, next year it’s done.’ You really have to think about that carefully,” he added.


2026 Looms: Could New Rules Break the Bond?

The 2026 Formula 1 regulations overhaul looms large on the horizon, with radical changes to power units emphasizing electrical power and sustainable fuels. Red Bull will transition to its highly anticipated Red Bull-Ford powertrain project, but Verstappen remains unbothered.

“In 2026, there will be new rules. But right now, I’m not too busy with that, to be honest,” he shrugged.

With Honda set to join Aston Martin in a works deal and Adrian Newey—Red Bull’s technical mastermind—jumping ship to Aston Martin in 2025, rumors swirled over whether Verstappen’s loyalty could wobble.

Yet Verstappen dismissed the speculation coldly: “Right now, I haven’t thought about Aston Martin at all.”


The Bigger Picture: Verstappen’s F1 Exit?

Beyond his Red Bull loyalty, Verstappen has hinted at a future beyond Formula 1. With his contract stretching through 2028, Verstappen’s priorities may shift as he prepares for life off the grid—one that includes fatherhood with partner Kelly Piquet next year.

“For me, it’s not just about F1,” he explained. “After that, I want to do a lot of other things. Who are the right partners for that? Those are things I’m thinking about, but I don’t necessarily have to make a decision right now.”


The Verdict: Mercedes Came Knocking, But Verstappen Isn’t Budging—Yet

The Verstappen-Mercedes saga underscores one truth: in Formula 1, the lines between loyalty and opportunity are razor-thin. While Toto Wolff remains on the hunt for the next Hamilton, Verstappen sits comfortably atop the F1 throne with Red Bull.

For now, the Dutch superstar has spoken. Mercedes tried, the conversations happened, but his message is clear: Max Verstappen is Red Bull’s driver. Until he decides otherwise.

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