Max Verstappen has again come under pressure that a “calm and non-violent environment” is his only desire at Red Bull as uncertainty persists within the team.
Verstappen got off to a good start in his new name defense, taking four wins from five races to start the 2024 F1 season and have a 25-point lead over teammate Sergio Perez in the drivers’ standings.
Red Bull’s on-track functionality has remained unstoppable despite the off-track drama that engulfed the team at the start of the new season, raising questions about Verstappen’s future.
After an investigation into Christian Horner’s conduct was ruled out in February, Verstappen’s father Jos publicly called for the team principal’s resignation following the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, accusing Horner of “playing the victim when he’s the only one”. “That’s the reason for the problems. “
Verstappen Sr went on to say that Red Bull could “explode” if Horner, who has led the team since joining the grid in 2005, remains in position.
Follow PlanetF1. com’s WhatsApp channel for all the latest F1 news!
F1 Driver Salaries Revealed 2024: Who Are the Highest Paid Drivers on the Network?
A first in the saga came this week when several reports claimed that design guru Adrian Newey had signalled his intention to leave Red Bull.
Speaking before rumours of Newey’s possible departure surfaced, Verstappen, closely linked to a sensational season at Mercedes in recent weeks, was under pressure that a calm, performance-oriented environment was a must for him.
He told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf: “What is very important for me is that there is calm in the team. Let everyone focus on the car and performance. “
“I also feel like we’re calmer now than we were at the beginning of the season.
“After my first world name in 2021, I signed a long contract with Red Bull for a reason.
“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 latest comments come after, ahead of the recent Chinese Grand Prix, he claimed that the reigning world champion, whose contract with Red Bull will last until the end of the 2028 season, is “at a standstill” in the driver market.
A report from German publication Auto Motor und Sport claims that Verstappen finds the prospect of joining Mercedes exciting amid the team’s existing problems.
However, any engagement with Red Bull given the lack of choice features may open the door to an ambitious acquisition via Horner, the potential best friend that led to the suspension of Red Bull’s long-time advisor and stalwart best friend Helmut Marko.
Verstappen has made it clear on several occasions that his future is inextricably linked to Marko’s, PlanetF1. com reported in March that his contract would include a clause that would allow Verstappen to leave Red Bull if Marko left.
Read next: Max Verstappen at Mercedes? The Case for Red Bull’s Surprise Exit