The Dutch GP is about to start the very last Formula 1 weekend. Yet in the paddock, the contract extension of home hero Max Verstappen is mainly the topic of conversation. The fellow drivers of the four-time world champion were also asked about the big news surrounding the Red Bull driver, including Pierre Gasly, Lando Norris, and George Russell.
Read more ‘Blessing for Red Bull and F1 that Max Verstappen stays’ | Dutch GP Update
“I think Max’s manager did an excellent job and managed to negotiate a nice pay raise,” joked Pierre Gasly to the media when the contract extension of his former teammate came up. “And I think it’s great news for the sport that Max stays on the grid. He might be the best of our generation, so I absolutely think it’s good news.”
With Verstappen’s contract extension, speculation about the driver’s future also comes to an end. Earlier, the Dutchman was linked to Mercedes and McLaren, among others, which is why George Russell and Lando Norris are also asked what they think about Verstappen’s commitment. “It’s just like Lando said earlier: it’s actually only something we as drivers think about when you from the press sit in front of us and ask these questions,” Russell says in the press conference.
Read more Max Verstappen honest about doubts regarding F1 future: ‘Didn’t know if I wanted to stay’
“Within Mercedes, it has always been very clear what the reality was over the past years,” continues the Mercedes driver. “The talks were perhaps a bit more public than the talks his team had with, for example, McLaren, Ferrari, or whoever it may have been. That is just the nature of the sport. Drivers talk to different teams and teams talk to different drivers. Everyone just has to see which cards they have in their hands. My seat was never in danger and I felt one hundred percent sure with Toto Wolff and the team. That obviously remains the case now.”
‘I welcome everyone as my teammate’
Lando Norris then adds: “I haven’t heard much more about it than you. I welcome everyone as my teammate. Someone who has won as many world championships as he has and someone who is as talented as he is would of course always be considered to one day become my teammate. But I know that Oscar Piastri will remain my teammate for quite some time, so I know nothing changes.”
Read more Max Verstappen explains choice for Red Bull: ‘Prefer to retire rather than race for another team’
Read everything here about the GP Netherlands in Zandvoort
