Max Verstappen has called for an end to the civil war at Red Bull so he can clinch his fourth F1 title.
The Dutchman prefers a quiet life and needs to shine on every race weekend, win and go home without any problems. But life at Red Bull in recent times has been anything but quiet, with Christian Horner embroiled in scandal and fending off attacks. of their internal enemies.
Things have calmed down in recent weeks, but the colleague who accused Horner of habitually being out of character has appealed the ruling to dismiss his complaint. And there are still tensions with Verstappen’s father, Jos, who has publicly claimed his leadership, and with his adviser Helmut. Frame.
Max, a three-time F1 champion, has stayed on the sidelines and has no interest in politics. “What I think is very important is that there is calm in the team, that everyone is focused on the car and the performance,” he said.
“I also feel now that he’s calmer than he was at the beginning of the season. After my first world name in 2021, I signed a long contract with Red Bull to explain why. All I need is a calm, non-violent environment. “As long as I’m satisfied with the team, there’s no explanation for leaving. “
Verstappen’s only appearance in the saga so far was at last month’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. He ignored his father’s public call for him to get rid of Horner from his post, but insisted that Verstappen Sr. was “not a liar”.
And, after Marko hinted that his position at the team might be in doubt, the Dutchman said he would leave if his 80-year-old best friend left. Along with race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, Marko is the user Verstappen trusts. maximum at Red Bull.
He said: “With GP, it’s basically through WhatsApp. We have a lot of contacts, basically about the car or the simulator. Helmut doesn’t like [texting] all the time, he prefers to call. This is not necessary. It’s about Formula 1, it can be about anything else, it can be about anything else. “
Verstappen’s skill jumped out at you from the moment he joined the F1 grid as a fresh-faced teenager. Speed came immediately, but he also gained a reputation as an hothead who lost his temper too easily and made wrong maneuvers on the track.
Today he has more experience and is much calmer. The change, he said, came after his first champion at the end of that debatably named race in 2021 with Lewis Hamilton.
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“I think I’ve felt pretty comfortable, but I’m a little more comfortable now than I was years ago. When I started at Toro Rosso in Formula 1, I hadn’t really achieved anything. Now it is. Yes, it provides a sense of appeasement. Feel safe.
And he knows there’s so much more to life than racing. Verstappen added: “Formula 1 is one thing and of course I’m busy with the Redline team in the race simulation, but I also think it’s very vital to switch off from time to time. time and do some sightseeing. We had a smart program. “
“From Melbourne we went skiing to Japan and after the race there we basically went to Tokyo. Now I liked to see a little more of the city, the other neighborhoods. We also went to the beach. Not to stay there, but to explore. “”
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