Christian Horner’s departure as Purple Bull boss won’t have an effect on Max Verstappen’s future with Mercedes transfer rumoured.
Max Verstappen has insisted that Christian Horner’s shock departure as workforce boss of Purple Bull can have no influence on his future plans.
The four-time world champion, who has been linked with a transfer to Mercedes subsequent 12 months, instructed on Thursday that he expects to stick with Purple Bull till the conclusion of his present contract in 2028.
Chatting with reporters within the paddock earlier than this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, one among his “house” races as he was born in Belgium and his mom is Belgian, the 27-year-old Dutchman stated he was involved solely with bettering the pace and efficiency of his automobile.
The remaining, he stated, was not of nice curiosity to him, including that previous tensions between Horner and his father, Jos Verstappen, had no bearing on selections about his future.
Requested if Horner’s exit after 20 years as workforce boss made it extra possible that he would keep at Purple Bull subsequent 12 months, Verstappen stated, “No, it doesn’t. Not likely.”
He stated the well-publicised discord between his father and Horner was by no means an issue.
“Folks can have a distinction of opinion, and I count on that to occur as a result of if everybody agrees, there’s a downside.
“You might want to have variations in opinion. Now, we’ll work in a distinct path, and I’m enthusiastic about it, and I don’t assume it would matter in any respect for the choice over my future.
“The one factor that issues is that we work on the automobile and make it as quick as we are able to and try to be extra aggressive this 12 months, somewhat bit, however for positive with the brand new rules subsequent 12 months.”
Verstappen had earlier welcomed the appointment of Frenchman Laurent Mekies, promoted from junior workforce Racing Bulls, as Horner’s successor and clearly sensed that it may usher in a stronger technical and engineering focus on the workforce.
He gave an indirect response when requested if he had a choice to make about his future.
“There’s additionally the potential for not waking up tomorrow, and so there isn’t a driving.
“Life is unpredictable and, typically, I’m proud of the place I’m at.”
He added, “The goal was that after I signed my deal, I might drive right here till the top of my profession.”
Verstappen might be hoping to finish the hypothesis and provides each the workforce and new boss Mekies a lift with a convincing efficiency this weekend on his favorite circuit.
The Dutchman finds himself within the unaccustomed place of third within the drivers’ standings, behind chief Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, each of McLaren.
