Triple world champion Max Verstappen has reaffirmed his contentment with Red Bull Racing, despite contemplating his future beyond his current contract set to expire in 2028. Speaking ahead of Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix, the 26-year-old Dutch driver emphasized his satisfaction with the team, stating, \"I'm very happy where I'm at, and we want to keep it that way.\"
Verstappen's impressive start to the season, marked by victories in the first two races, showcases his prowess on the track. However, behind the scenes, Red Bull has faced some off-track turbulence. Last month in Saudi Arabia, Verstappen hinted at the possibility of leaving if the team were to part ways with his long-term mentor, Helmut Marko.
Adding to the speculation, Verstappen's father, Jos Verstappen, recently claimed that Red Bull could be \"torn apart\" if team boss Christian Horner remains in his position. Despite these challenges, Verstappen remains focused on the present, expressing uncertainty about his plans post-Red Bull. \"I have a contract with Red Bull until 2028, after that, I first want to see if I even want to continue,\" he explained. \"That's for me the most important, it's not so much about where. These kinds of things I don't really think about at the moment.\"
Reflecting on the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix's Suzuka track, Verstappen shared his thoughts on the circuit's demands. He mentioned, \"It's quite intimidating the first time you drive around the track. Even in the wet, because it's so narrow, if you make a small mistake, you can go off in the grass or the gravel. It just adds a bit more to it.\"
Reference(s):
F1: Verstappen 'very happy' at RB; Sainz wants future sorted 'sooner'
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