Verstappen, a champion loyal to Red Bull: How long will he stay with his current team?
Verstappen, a champion loyal to Red Bull: How long will he stay with his current team?
Max Verstappen secured his third consecutive Formula 1 world title at the Qatar GP. The Dutchman forms an unstoppable duo with the RB19. Thus, both the driver and the team are achieving together all the records that are put in front of them and everything points to continue doing so, at least for a couple of years.
His contract with the Austrians is set to run until 2028, although there was talk recently that the quality of the car the team provides him with will be a key factor in extending that deal. “It would be a beautiful story if I could drive here forever, that’s for sure, something that will be amazing. I’m very happy where I am. I feel at home, I feel very happy with the people who are very close to me here in the team,” Verstappen told Sky Sports .
The driver says he would like to be part of the team until the end of his career. The historical precedents of the competition make it clear that virtually all champions competed for more than one constructor (either before or after winning the title), however, it is unimaginable to think of the Dutchman at the wheel of another car, at least for the moment.
Verstappen has all the makings of a ‘one club man’ in F1. He moved up from Red Bull‘s junior team, Toro Rosso (now AlphaTauri), midway through his second season in the category. In 2016, the young prospect was already showing some qualities that made him different from the rest. Thus, the subsequent 49 victories have established him as the team’s most successful driver in terms of race wins.
The three-time champion claims that his desire for self-improvement ensures that he remains motivated amid his near-total domination of the sport over the past year. That intention to find new challenges could lead him to leave Red Bull as champions such as Schumacher himself, Vettel or Fernando Alonso did in their time, however, it is not something he is considering: “For me, this is not something I should be looking for. I have a few more years left on my contract anyway, so I’m just enjoying the moment.”
