Verstappen Won’t Leave Red Bull ‘For Any Price,’ Team Boss Says
Christian Horner is adamant about the Dutchman staying put.
Max Verstappen hasn't had a great 2017 season and he's made it clear that he feels his Red Bull Formula One car is to blame. With the team bargaining for better engine regulations as soon as possible, Renault said that it wouldn't be making major powerplant revisions until 2018. That was enough to drive the Dutchman mad, and reports even claimed that he was looking to join Ferrari come next year. However, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said he won't be letting Verstappen out of his contract "for any price", according to from Autoweek.
The discussion came up when Horner was asked about the future of Toro Rosso driver Carlos Sainz. Recent reports have told that he could be on the move, and that put Verstappen's contract into question.
When speaking of the 19-year-old driver and his teammate Daniel Ricciardo, Horner responded: "They have a hard commitment to Red Bull Racing, and we will not give them up for any price."
Red Bull consultant Dr. Helmut Marko also announced previously that he wouldn't release Verstappen, even for 100 million euros.
Verstappen was asked earlier in the press event about his current standings with the team, questioning his future past 2019. "I'm not talking about the term," he responded. "But right now I have a contract."
This came after he was asked if he or his father Jos had been in conversations with Ferrari, to which he replied "I am not talking about what's happening. I have a contract with Red Bull, and we'll see."
As for now, it looks like Verstappen will continue on with the Red Bull crew. He'll have to fight hard to overcome recent struggles which include five DNFs in the past eight races.
He currently sits 41 points behind fifth-place driver Kimi Raikkonen and two spots behind Ricciardo in championship standings.