Red Bull Racing did not have an easy year in 2024 and this could have weighed on its star driver, Max Verstappen, on numerous occasions.
Even if, on a sporting level, one of the two titles was ultimately retained by Verstappen, it was a very eventful start to the year which disrupted the team with the Christian Horner scandal or the loss of several very important ones like Adrian Newey or Jonathan Wheatley.
If Max has always dodged questions about his boss as best he can, his father, Jos Verstappen, did not hesitate to tackle him and make him responsible for all the problems. Before the situation eventually calmed down thanks to negotiations between the Austrian and Thai clans of the group.
Looking back, how does the four-time world champion view all this? Did this cost the team better results?
“I heard something was happening before going to Bahrain. It's never pleasant for the team. Nor for anyone, and certainly not for Christian himself. In the end, we have to continue in as a team. We have to focus on performance. That's what you're paid for. Ultimately, you try to focus on that because everything else is. It's none of your business.”
“There was a lot going on in the background. I also get to see more things than most people. Of course, you don't have to say everything in the media or talk about it “It's much more important that we get along well behind the scenes, so I don't think the results suffered from that.”
Ultimately, Horner was acquitted (internally) of charges of inappropriate behavior.
“He stayed and in the end, I think we built a very strong bond with the whole team – and Christian. We can quickly say we wash our hands of it and don't get involved. But in the end, we also owe a lot to each other on the team and we have to weather this storm with everyone.”
Verstappen himself was not too worried about this, it was not difficult for him to continue performing on track. There was no real change in his state of mind.
“In the end it's not nice, there are worse things in life. For me it wasn't difficult to stay focused on the race. It didn't matter that much.”
Verstappen, however, was much more present in the media to support his mentor, Dr Helmut Marko, who could have left Red Bull Racing. The team advisor appeared to be the victim of a power struggle and was even banned from speaking to the press.
“If Marko has to leave, I will leave too,” the Dutchman declared at the time.
“I have always said it very clearly, even last year. Everyone knows it. It allowed me to start in Formula 1,” he said today.
“Even once he was on the team, he was always very important to me, almost a kind of second father. We've been through a lot over the years, a lot of good things and also bad things. That also makes you loyal to someone.”
How concrete was Marko's departure becoming?
"I don't think we've gotten to that point, because I indicated what I thought about it," Verstappen said, implying that his voice counted heavily.
“There was a lot of slander from both sides. In the end, what matters is that we solve the problem together. And not in the media. And it worked. Between my father and Christian too . We need to talk about it among ourselves and that’s what they did.”
During this turbulent period, there were also rumors concerning him, including a possible transfer to Mercedes F1 well before the end of his contract, scheduled for the end of 2028.
“That wasn't really the intention. But you never know what might happen next year or in two years. You can't control that either. So I don't really think about it either. Listen , I'm very happy with where I am. We won another championship. Of course, we need to make improvements to the car. But I think it's very logical. can be myself. Everyone also works full time forever me. give the best material, of course, so in this area I have no complaints.”
For the Dutchman, the support coming from him in difficult times is very important.
“I think it was also clear this season. In the middle of the season we had difficult moments and you can also give up very quickly and look for a way out. But I think it was very important that I “I'm fully involved and trying to find solutions.”
The flirtation with Mercedes F1
Toto Wolff spoke of discussions with Verstappen during the summer. Can he say more today? He understands the interest of the Mercedes F1 director.
“You want to have the fastest drivers in your car. And of course, a lot of things play a role in their decision to choose a new driver.”
“Big teams are always interesting. But on the other hand, I am also in a very big team. I have achieved a lot of success with Red Bull. It is also like a second family, so these are considerations that you can't take too much lightly before you decide to leave and I'm not someone who goes from left to right very quickly anyway.”
The relationship between Verstappen and Wolff is good. Nothing has changed on this subject, according to the four-time world champion, despite the flirtation in the media from the Austrian. Which could have annoyed him, right?
“Look, sure, we still talk. And I'm not lying about the fact that we sat together. But that's not a problem in itself. At the end of the day, I really like where I am .”
Is it also because Mercedes F1 has nothing better to offer at the moment?
“No, I think we've also had very constructive conversations. I think everyone has always been very honest and open with each other. But on the other hand, I'm also very loyal to my own team . And I just feel comfortable there, so there's not much to gain from changing teams at the moment.”
“I'm still very young, so a lot of things can still happen in the future. But for me it's not just about Formula 1. I still want to do a lot of things after F1, so what are the good partners for this? These are things I'm thinking about, but I don't have to make a decision yet.”
“In Formula 1, you don't often see someone come out of their contract. It's not like in football, where you sign for five years and leave a year later. And it's not neither my intention.”
“But you never know what can happen next year, or in two years. I can't control that. Of course, you have to make improvements to the car, but I think it's very logical. And I feel very good in the team. I can be myself here, so in that respect, I have nothing to complain about.”
Win with another team
Max Verstappen freely admits that he would be very happy to spend his entire F1 career at Red Bull, since he started at Toro Rosso before moving to Red Bull Racing.
But several consultants also pushed him to try other challenges before hanging up. Mercedes F1 would easily free up a place for him. Definitely Ferrari in the future. To expand his record, while his talent is beyond doubt, this could make him the “GOAT”.
“To be honest, I don't care, I'm very happy with what I'm doing now. In the end, it's a debate, there are a lot of different opinions, so for me it doesn't matter. “I just want to have fun and of course try to win everything I can.”
The four-time world champion himself does not believe in the title of GOAT, “the best driver of all time”.
“It's always very difficult to determine, there are different eras with different cars. I never like to name a particular driver because I hear, and I agree with this, that there are always had a lot of great drivers across generations and you can't compare them.”
