Max Verstappen admits considering quitting Red Bull in huge statement after F1 title win
Red Bull star Max Verstappen secured yet another world title after bettering Lando Norris' result at the Las Vegas Grand Prix and became the fourth racer to win four successive championships
by Scott Trotter · The MirrorMax Verstappen has admitted that he did consider his Red Bull future in a season where he has now secured his fourth world title.
Fresh from securing his third world championship in 2023, the Dutch driver found his position embroiled in controversy with the Milton Keynes-based Formula 1 team. With an investigation into Christian Horner ahead of the 2024 season, his father Jos Verstappen in a public war of words and the 27-year-old being courted by Mercedes chief Toto Wolff, all was not stable.
Difficult moments off the track did not prevent Verstappen from securing seven wins from the opening 10 races. A period of greater strain followed as his Red Bull vehicle appeared to fall behind their rivals' offerings but some stellar performances ensured he retained his title.
Verstappen was able to hold off the challenge of McLaren and Lando Norris to become the fifth driver to win titles in four consecutive seasons, after Juan Manuel Fangio, Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. Following that achievement, Verstappen emphasised his loyalty to the team.
"I think in your life, every year there are always thoughts going through your head, from 'How long do I still want to do this? Where do I want to do this? How do I want to do this?'" he told Motorsport.com.
"There are things in your private life that happen, of course. In your racing life, there are always things that you have to deal with and think about.
"But that's fine. [I'm] in general quite relaxed about these things because it's very important to split your private life and racing life. But it's fine to have these thoughts in your head about what you want to do.
"But at the same time, I'm also not someone that makes very drastic decisions. And I'm just very happy where I'm at, at the moment.
"I'm very loyal to the team. I appreciate, of course, what they have done for me from picking me up out of F3 and giving me an F1 seat and then going through all these emotions over all the years with these key people in the team.
"So, when there are tough times, it's very easy to say goodbye or forget about it or ignore it. But I think it's actually way more important to actually face them and go through it together and deal with it and just try to just move on from there and focus back, of course, on the performance side of things and have fun out there.
"That's at the end the most important. If you're not having fun, then there's no point to continue."
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