MAX VERSTAPPEN CONFIRMS RED BULL STAY AMID MERCEDES LINKS

 

Max Verstappen won the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona last Sunday. THOMAS COEX/AFP via Getty Images

SPIELBERG, Austria -- After months of speculation over his future, Max Verstappen has confirmed he will remain at Red Bull in 2025, ruling out a switch to rivals Mercedes.

Verstappen has a contract with the team until 2028 but has consistently been linked this year with a move to Mercedes.

The rumours were forged amid tensions at Red Bull earlier this season that stemmed from an investigation into team principal Christian Horner over allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff did nothing to disguise his interest in Verstappen as his team assessed its options to replace Lewis Hamilton, who will leave Mercedes for Ferrari at the end of this season.

As recently as last week's Spanish Grand Prix, the prospect of Verstappen switching teams was raised in the media again, although Wolff said no talks were ongoing with the driver.

Verstappen has been reluctant to give a straight answer on the issue all year, and he initially gave a vague response when asked ahead of this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix.

"I think I've said this before. I mean, naturally, of course, people are talking," he said. "But it's most important just that we have a very competitive car for the future.

"At the moment, of course, it's very tight, but we are working very well as a team to try and improve more.

"And for sure, I said this already with the team, we are working and focusing also on next year to try and be competitive again."

Pressed to give a yes or no answer to whether he would be at Red Bull in 2025, he added: "You didn't get that out of my answer before?

"OK, yes, but that's what I said. We're already also working on next year's car, you know. I think when you're very focused on that, that means that you're also driving for the team."

Red Bull's advantage over the rest of the field has shrunk in recent races, although Verstappen has still won three of the past four races and seven of the 10 so far this year.

Asked whether he would look to switch teams if Red Bull continued to lose ground, he said: "I don't think that's how Formula One works, where then suddenly you could say, well, bye, guys.

"You know, it's not how it works. I have a long contract with the team. I'm very happy where I'm at.

"And like I said before, we are focusing also already on next year with things that we can implement on the car."

- Laurence Edmondson, F1 Editor