Max Verstappen ended all speculation about his future in Formula 1 on Thursday morning. Ahead of his last home race at Zandvoort, he announced that he will stay with Red Bull until 2030. During a special press conference, he explained his choice. Despite his struggles with the new regulations, he is satisfied with the direction Formula 1 is taking and emphasizes that Red Bull is still ‘his second family’.
Read more Max Verstappen explains choice for Red Bull: ‘Prefer to retire rather than race for another team’
“I have been part of this team for so long, we have already won so much and shared so many great moments,” Verstappen begins to the media gathered in the Red Bull motorhome. “Last year Laurent (Mekies, ed.) joined, of course, and that relationship has just been very good from the start. Everything is very open and transparent. That was very important to me with a view to the future and it certainly helped me make this choice.”
“It just feels very good to stay with this team,” says a down-to-earth Verstappen. “I also told Dietrich (Mateschitz, Red Bull founder, ed.) when he was still alive that it has always been my goal to end my career with this team. That day is of course getting closer, even though I still have many years to go.”
Read more VIDEO: Red Bull pokes fun at exit rumors Max Verstappen: ‘That can’t be true’
Max Verstappen doubted about F1 future
Still, Verstappen hinted several times in recent months that he might retire early from Formula 1. The new regulations, which place even more emphasis on energy management, cautiously pushed him towards the exit. Verstappen admits that he doubted his F1 future for some time. “After the first few races I said to Laurent: ‘Don’t come to me with questions about the future, because I don’t even know if I want to stay.’ But honestly, we have always kept it very open. And in the end, I just love racing.”
“Moreover, we have had many good conversations with Formula 1, but also with the FIA,” continued the four-time world champion. “And I think we are, let’s say, ‘slowly’ working towards a better product. But for that, I also have to adapt. I accept the situation we are all in and just try to make the best of it. And I think 2030 might open new doors again. Then we might look forward to a return of the V8 engine. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is actively lobbying for a comeback of the naturally aspirated engines.”
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Read everything about the Dutch GP in Zandvoort here
