Verstappen compromises his immediate future with Red Bull, despite speculations linking him to Mercedes. The Dutch driver made it clear that he is collaborating with his current team in the plans for the next season. Mercedes boss, Toto Wolff, openly expressed his interest in Verstappen as a potential replacement for Lewis Hamilton, who is about to join Ferrari in 2025. The pursuit by the German team intensified this week, when CEO Ola Kallenius admitted that Verstappen would be a great option for their team. However, Verstappen reiterated his loyalty to Red Bull and stated that he is not considering offers from other teams.
During a press conference before the Austrian Grand Prix, Verstappen was asked if he could confirm his commitment to Red Bull for the 2025 season. He replied, “I believe I have already addressed this. Naturally, there will always be talks and rumors. However, what matters most is that we have a highly competitive car for the future. Currently, the competition is fierce, but we are diligently working as a team to make further improvements. We are also focused on next year to ensure we remain competitive.” When pressed for a definitive answer on whether he will be driving for Red Bull next season, Verstappen responded, “You did not interpret my previous answer correctly.” He continued, “Yes, that’s what I meant. We are already working on next year’s car. When you are fully focused on that, it shows your commitment to the team.”
Verstappen rejected the idea that McLaren’s recent good performances could tempt him to consider other options. The reigning champion emphasized that his attention is fully focused on collaborating with his current team to face the challenges they have faced this season. He stated: “Formula 1 doesn’t work that way, where you can simply say goodbye to a team. I have a long-term contract with Red Bull and I am extremely satisfied with where I am. As I mentioned earlier, we are already looking at next year and implementing improvements in the car. I believe that speaks volumes about my plans for next year.”
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