Verstappen Downplays Departure Rumors Ahead of Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Max Verstappen is trying to quell speculation about his future with Red Bull Racing after a challenging performance at the Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend.

Following a sixth-place finish in Bahrain, the four-time Formula One world champion acknowledged dissatisfaction with this season’s car, raising concerns about internal team dynamics. Verstappen’s performance has drawn attention, particularly amid comments from Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko, who expressed worries that Verstappen might contemplate leaving the team if improvements are not made.

“I don’t know, to be honest,” Verstappen told reporters when questioned about Marko’s remarks ahead of this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. “I just keep working, keep trying to improve the car. Naturally, Bahrain wasn’t a great weekend for us. I think we were all pretty disappointed with that.”

Verstappen reinforced his commitment to the team, focusing on enhancing the car’s performance. “We just keep on trying to improve the car, come up with new ideas to try on the car. The competition is tough. That’s how I go about my weeks, just trying to improve the situation.”

In a playful response to a Sky Sports commentator at a press conference, Verstappen added, “Just focus on commentating, I’ll focus on driving, and then we don’t need to think about any other scenarios,” which was met with a smile.

Despite having a contract with Red Bull until 2028, rumors of possible moves to teams like Mercedes and Aston Martin have circulated over the past year as Verstappen eyes a fifth consecutive world championship.

Red Bull’s performance has notably waned since last season, raising alarms about potential issues within the team. Verstappen himself stirred curiosity earlier this month when he indicated he did not regret liking an Instagram post that critiqued Red Bull’s decision to swap drivers Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda early in the season.

Reflecting on the ongoing discussions around his future, Verstappen said, “A lot of people are talking about it except me. Like I said before, I just want to focus on my car, work with the people in the team — that’s the only thing I’m thinking about in Formula 1 at the moment. I’m very relaxed.”

This season, Verstappen has managed two podium finishes: he placed second in Australia and secured a victory in Japan. As the team heads into the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, they will hope for a turnaround in performance, particularly with rivals Lando Norris currently ranked higher in the driver standings.