Why Verstappen’s in for the long haul with Red Bull and F1

There has been an element of whiplash when it has come to Max Verstappen’s future over the past 18 months. Significant links to Mercedes last summer were followed by a threat to quit Formula 1 altogether earlier this year, and then before any further Mercedes rumors had really gathered pace it was McLaren that was named as a potential destination should he leave Red Bull.

And there was some truth to some of it.

For one, drivers always talk to teams, and teams to drivers. When it comes to Verstappen, everyone on the grid would want to have a conversation at the very least. But it did feel like the McLaren rumors were well-timed to coincide with Red Bull GmbH senior management being present in Austria earlier this year, and could be used as a negotiating tactic from the Verstappen side.

If there was some ambiguity to the seriousness of those links, then there was none when it came to suggesting he could leave F1, however.

“I think I was closer to retiring than changing team!” Verstappen admitted. “I have to say after the first few races I said to Laurent [Mekies, team principal, pictured above with Verstappen]: ‘Don't come to me with any kind of questions about the future, because I didn't even know if I want to stay!’”

As the year progressed, though, so too did the talks, resulting in Verstappen signing a new contract with Red Bull that is set to keep him at the team until the end of 2030.

From the wider perspective of the direction of F1 right now, Verstappen says there were encouraging talks that played a part in securing his commitment, but also highlights the length of his new deal as potentially taking him into the sport’s next era.

“Honestly, we always kept it very open," he said. "I love racing and I think I had a lot of very good discussions with F1, but also with the FIA, and I think we are slowly working towards something that becomes better and better. So also from my side of course I adapted – I accept the situation that I think we're all in, and just trying to make the best of that.

“And I think also with the year that I signed to, it again opens up the door maybe when potentially the V8s come in to look at that again as well.”

Red Bull arguably stands out from all other teams in being built around Verstappen, a factor that helps keep him engaged through the ebbs and flows of competition. Dom Gibbons/Formula 1 via Getty Images

Securing Verstappen’s signature for the long term was clearly of huge importance to Red Bull, but team principal Laurent Mekies was also taking the uncertainty over the four-time world champion’s future in F1 seriously. As much as he talked up how central Verstappen is to the team and its outlook moving forward, Mekies referenced the overall impact of his commitment to stay in the category on more than one occasion.

“It's phenomenal news, certainly for Oracle Red Bull Racing, I dare to say for Formula 1 and perhaps even more globally, for the sport,” Mekies said. “If there is one word that comes to mind – in fact I think the first message we exchanged when it was [confirmed] – is what a demonstration of trust Max has put in the team by making this decision.

“We don't take it lightly. With that trust comes a huge amount of responsibility in living up to being able to give him the best package for the years to come. But certainly if one thinks about the role Max has in the team, it is much more than the driver. We have been saying it many times – he is the central point of the team, he is the one we always refer to for all the strategic decisions we are making, and to know that he's going to be with us in order to build that next winning cycle is phenomenal.

“So I think more globally, if one thinks to what are the pillars you need to have in order to open that winning cycle again, well, certainly the driver side is done now. We have said many many times that we trust we have the best talents in Milton Keynes, and that's the second pillar. And certainly the third pillar is the number of strategic decisions that has been made that we trust will give us a competitive advantage.”

Seeking that competitive advantage is something that clearly fuels Verstappen, but he does not prioritize the best chance of winning over everything else. He describes Red Bull as his family, and his belief in the team has not diminished by high-profile departures.

“It's just the very open discussions that I've had also with Laurent and within the team as well,” Verstappen said. “Of course I feel at home but we are… well, I think you're never satisfied. Even when you're winning, you're not satisfied; you always want to be better.

“Yes, people have left but at the same time you're looking at new talent and bringing other people in and that's what we're doing. So of course time will tell how successful we would be but that's the same for everyone, right? Because no one can promise that they are going to win next year or the year after, so I do have to believe that with the people here that we can and now we just have to work for it.

“First of all you need to feel good where you are at. It doesn't even matter, if you are let's say in the fastest car but you don't feel well, I don't think that's going to last very long. So I feel very good in this team, I have the belief in the people that we can get back to the top, and time will tell. That's what we are targeting.

“I still want to win races, I’m hungry to win more, plus of course Red Bull allows me to do things also a little bit outside of Formula 1. So it's like a big plus, all of it – the whole package, which I'm of course very grateful for.”

The external freedom should not be overlooked when it comes to Verstappen, who has made clear his desire to race in other prestigious events when his schedule allows. Other teams might have more competitive cars right now, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they would offer the seem overall package as Red Bull.

And in creating an environment that the 28-year-old doesn’t want to leave, Red Bull has managed to bring one of Verstappen’s early ambitions for his F1 career closer to reality.

“I always said – and I said this when Dietrich [Mateschitz, Red Bull founder] was still alive – I said my goal and target is to finish my career in this team and I think we are getting close to that. I mean, of course there are still a lot of years ahead but that's still the target. So that's why I'm very proud to extend and of course try to get back to the top. We have tasted, of course, a lot of being on top, that's why I think we are very hungry to try and get there again.

“I like it here. I think it would be a great story if that would be possible – being picked up by Red Bull and finishing your career within one team. Because like I said before, I don't feel the need to change just to change and I don’t necessarily need to drive in another color. My favorite color is blue, so that helps, but it would be of course an amazing story if that would happen.”