Max Verstappen has brutally shut down the idea of a future move to Ferrari. Verstappen’s future has been up in the air for some time, and despite the Dutchman penning a contract extension with Red Bull earlier this year, the noise surrounding a move away from the constructor hasn’t died down.
Ferrari have been among the teams linked with the four-time world champion, but hopes of the Italians landing Verstappen have been killed by the driver himself. That’s because Verstappen has all but ruled out a move to Ferrari, while taking a subtle swipe at Lewis Hamilton in the process.
Verstappen’s blunt response
When asked about the prospect of joining Ferrari, Verstappen remarked: "I only want to win. I am not a nostalgic type. Do I have a lot of respect for the [Ferrari] brand? Absolutely. But if that means you then commit yourself, and you are driving P5 or P6, what's the point?
"I am very performance-driven, and I have won a lot with this team already. It is a second family at Red Bull, and the challenge of rebuilding is what's driving me."
Hamilton’s childhood dream
Hamilton joined Ferrari ahead of the 2025 season, and during his welcome interview, the Brit revealed it was a childhood dream to don the famous red jumpsuit. He said: "I feel incredibly fortunate, after achieving things with Mercedes that I could only have dreamed of as a kid, that I now have the chance to fulfil another childhood dream. Driving in Ferrari red."
For Verstappen, though, that sentimentality isn’t seeping into his decision-making, as the 29-year-old clearly thinks Red Bull is still the best place for him. However, Verstappen didn’t rule out an early exit from Formula One altogether, hinting that he might not see out the full four-year contract.
Early exit hint
He added: "Staying here until then would mean I have dedicated more than half of my life to Formula One, and that is probably a bit too much.
"I have extended for a few more years, and then I will look again and say to myself, 'can I commit 100 per cent?' If not, or there are other fun things around that deserves more time, then maybe I don't continue. I also want to spend more time at home and see the kids growing up."
In the meantime, Verstappen returns to action this weekend for the Singapore Grand Prix. It comes after he secured his first win of the season last time out at the Bahrain Grand Prix, which was held at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit.
