Verstappen not ruling out future Ferrari, Mercedes switch

  • Published on 27 Jul 2017 10:53
  • comments 5
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Max Verstappen has not ruled out that he could move to Ferrari or Mercedes in the future. The Dutchman has been disappointed by his 2017 season with Red Bull, as not only is the car failing to match the front runners in pace, but unreliability has cost the 19-year-old a chance at some more podium finishes.

Verstappen doesn't care what team he's with, as long as he has a competitive car: "I know Ferrari has a great story in Formula 1. It's the same for Mercedes, by the way. Quite honestly, I only want to sit in the best possible car. The colour doesn't really matter."

Red Bull was expected to challenge Mercedes this season in the wake of a rule change in the aerodynamic department. Despite appearing as though they are not in the fight for the championship, Verstappen still has faith for the future: "I believe in the strength of Red Bull. We're on the right track. The car and the engine are constantly improving." 

Verstappen's driving style has come under criticism from some of his fellow drivers, and so he was branded with the nickname 'Mad Max'. However, Verstappen doesn't care what his colleagues call him, stating that there is only one way to drive on the track.

"They can call me what they want," he insisted. "'Mad Max' or whatever. I say that on the track you have to be an assh*le. Look at Michael Schumacher! At the end of the day, a F1 driver needs to know how to win races and titles, not how to be a nice guy.

"I do not expect him to send me a Christmas card or invite me to his birthday," laughed when asked about Sebastian Vettel. "Daniel (Ricciardo) is a bigger challenge for me. When the two of them drove for the same team in 2014, Daniel was stronger."

 

Fergal Walsh

Haha he does remind me of Schumacher

  • 1
  • Jul 27 2017 - 11:25

Replies (5)

Login to reply
  • Haha he does remind me of Schumacher

    • + 1
    • Jul 27 2017 - 11:25
  • He is making a lot of noise about a switch, maybe there is more of a chance than we think

    • + 0
    • Jul 27 2017 - 11:46
    • There's a chance, but not for 2018

      • + 0
      • Jul 27 2017 - 11:48
  • Smiler121

    Posts: 53

    That comment reminded me that Ricciardo beat Vettel by 71 points in their 2014 season together :-)

    • + 0
    • Jul 27 2017 - 16:26
    • True, but do note that Vettel had far more engine trouble than Ricciardo that year.

      • + 0
      • Jul 27 2017 - 17:20

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Red Bull Racing
  • Points 2,980
  • Podiums 111
  • Grand Prix 206
  • Country NL
  • Date of b. Sep 30 1997 (27)
  • Place of b. Hasselt (Belgie), NL
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar