Max Verstappen delivers a clear warning to rival F1 bosses, stressing freedom matters more than contracts in any future career move.
Verstappen has issued a blunt warning to any rival Formula 1 team boss considering giving him a call.
Between the Miami and Imola Grands Prix, the four-time world champion set a blistering pace around the infamous Nordschleife at the Nürburgring behind the wheel of a Ferrari GT3 car.
“If I were his team principal, I’d be asking if he’d lost his mind,” former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher said in Imola.
But Red Bull bosses Christian Horner and Helmut Marko insist they have no issue with their star driver’s extracurricular activities. Marko even emphasized that the team simply takes a more “liberal” approach than others.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, for instance, is well known for strictly prohibiting his drivers from taking part in high-risk activities.
Asked in Imola what he would say to a team principal interested in signing him—especially given that he’s not ruling out a future departure from Red Bull—Verstappen was candid.
“I’d tell them Formula 1 isn’t my whole life. People always assume every decision I make depends solely on what happens in this sport, but I’m involved in so many other things,” he said.
“As I’ve mentioned before, not every team can offer what I’m looking for.”
Red Bull, for instance, lifted its ban on skiing for Verstappen and now allows him to chase lap records at the Nordschleife.
“That’s right,” the Dutchman confirmed with a smile. “And if I ever move to another team, nothing in my life will change. I won’t give up the things I love. If someone doesn’t like my hobbies, that’s their problem. But they won’t even get a call back from me.”
Verstappen has committed to staying in Formula 1 “at least until 2028, but no longer than that. It’s clear there are parts of this environment I don’t enjoy, and eventually, I’ll say enough is enough. But not for another three years.”
McLaren is currently performing strongly, with both of its drivers under long-term contracts. Still, it’s notable that the team’s CEO Zak Brown stated in Imola that Verstappen would be free to keep skiing and racing GT3s if he ever joined the papaya orange squad.
“We like seeing our drivers in race cars—McLarens, of course. But as long as they stay focused on F1 and just have some fun on the side, that’s fine with us.”
In Miami, Lando Norris criticized Verstappen, implying the Dutchman is always on the edge of crashing whenever a rival tries to overtake him.
Verstappen was unfazed when asked about his on-track battles with Norris.
“I really don’t care,” he said. “Once I leave the track, I’m thinking about my GT3 project or working with my Redline sim racing team. That’s way more fun and interesting to me than worrying about what someone else might say, do, or think.”
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