Max Verstappen was photographed for a portrait during the launch of the Red Bull Racing 2024 Season RB20 in London, UK on January 30, 2024.
Verstappen confirms that he has not considered a future outside of Red Bull in Formula 1, but he also acknowledges that he cannot completely rule out a potential switch to Ferrari.
Before joining F1, Verstappen’s exceptional talent attracted interest from both Mercedes and Red Bull, and ultimately his team chose to sign with the latter, based on the promise of a seat in the top flight for 2015.
After achieving victory in his debut season with the senior Red Bull team, Verstappen has since accumulated 54 career wins and secured three consecutive Drivers’ titles.
However, the Dutchman has repeatedly stated that he may decide to leave the sport once his current contract with Red Bull expires at the end of 2028.
Similar to Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton seemed destined to end his F1 career with one team, but it was recently announced that the British driver will leave Mercedes to join Ferrari starting next year.
When asked about the possibility of driving for Ferrari, Verstappen responded to selected media by saying, “I am satisfied with the current environment I am in, so changing teams is not something I am actively seeking. However, in my life, I have learned to never say never. But at this moment, it is not even a consideration for me. Formula One is not the only thing I want to do.”
Hamilton and Verstappen engaged in a fierce battle for the 2021 championship, which was filled with controversy and went down to the final lap of the last race. Verstappen’s controversial victory marked the beginning of a new era of dominance.
However, since the introduction of new regulations in 2022, their respective teams have experienced contrasting fortunes, resulting in fewer on-track battles between the two drivers.
When asked about Hamilton’s upcoming move to Ferrari, Verstappen chose to remain reserved, stating that only the parties involved truly understand the reasons behind his decision.
“At the end of the day, if someone like Lewis, who has achieved so much, wants to drive for Ferrari and it’s his dream and goal, we can’t fully comprehend the discussions and promises made between him and Mercedes and Ferrari,” Verstappen explained. “So, we cannot provide an honest assessment from our perspective regarding his decision. But if he is happy with the move, I think it will be cool. And of course, I wish them success, although it is uncertain at this moment.”
