Max Verstappen reaches decision on quitting Red Bull but keeps decision secret
Max Verstappen has been heavily linked with a move away from Red Bull in recent months, with the Dutchman having been linked with Mercedes and Aston Martin
Max Verstappen has reached a verdict on his tenure with Red Bull but remained tight-lipped during a grilling about his professional trajectory prior to the Monaco Grand Prix.
Despite being under contract until 2028, speculation is rampant over a potential shift for the champion driver. Just last year, Mercedes openly wooed him, although Kimi Antonelli stepped up to succeed Lewis Hamilton instead.
Aston Martin has also been thrown into the mix as a possible future home for Verstappen, invoking chatter about teaming up once again with legendary designer Adrian Newey. Owner Lawrence Stroll's deep pockets are rumored to potentially sweeten the deal for Verstappen to an unprecedented level.
- Dave Portnoy highlights huge Fever difference after Caitlin Clark 'didn't play great'
- Kyle Larson's anxiety clear as NASCAR star in danger of more 'double' agony
The ongoing rumors persist mainly because Red Bull has seemingly fallen behind McLaren in the hierarchy. Verstappen hasn't shied away from discussing his allegiance to Red Bull, the only Formula One home he's ever known.
Still, he's historically hinted at keeping options open should the outfit not provide him with the means to compete near the top.
"I mean, I've said it many times," Verstappen voiced to The Telegraph while confirming his position had been made clear to team chiefs. His response to a reveal request was straightforward: "I've said it to the team. I think that's the most important thing."
When confronted with the notion that his silence could spark further media frenzy and wild guesswork, he offered no resolution.
He retorted: "Yeah, but I mean, we also don't know if I will wake up tomorrow, you know what I mean? You just never know. This is the thing."
This came on the heels of Verstappen's decision to forgo the private screening of Brad Pitt's new F1 movie on Wednesday evening. While most of his competitors were seen gracing the red carpet, Verstappen was conspicuously absent.
DON'T MISS
Only Verstappen and Lance Stroll were the two drivers who skipped the event. Rather than joining his peers, Verstappen chose to live stream his video game play online.
When asked about his absence, he clarified: "I just wanted to spend more time at home. It wasn't a mandatory event either, it was just my private time.
"I prefer to spend that private time at home, especially because in Formula One you're away from home so much already. Wanting to spend more time at home on days like that is pretty normal, I think, now that the family is growing."
