Red Bull team boss Christian Horner doesn’t believe that the future of Max Verstappen depends on any contractual clauses, instead the Dutchman believes in the team and the new engine partner Honda. This statement was made after the resurfacing rumour that Verstappen might leave Red Bull.
Horner knows that a lot of rumours revolve around the 21-year-old’s contract and confirms that such a clause exists in Verstappen’s contract after repeated questioning by the press over the last week.
In an attempt to dampen down the impact the confession has, Horner then goes on to say that it’s not unusual and that in his opinion similar clauses are likely to exist at Mercedes and Ferrari.
“There are performance criteria in all contracts of the top drivers. This will also be the case with Ferrari and Mercedes.” Of course, Horner is not privy to whatever negotiated deal the Mercedes pair have or Vettel has with Ferrari, but it doesn’t stop him stating it as ‘fact’.
“If you keep a driver on just one sheet of paper, it’s not the right relationship. Max believes in our project and our capabilities and in Honda’s progress and development.”
Red Bull only switched from Renault to Honda this season and therefore Horner sees 2019 as a transitional year.
“At the moment our internal expectations have been exceeded,” Horner stresses. “But in 2020 we want to fight for the championship right from the start.”
“Max is of great value to us,” says Horner and attests that he has often gone over and above expectation with the equipment the team and Honda have given him.
“He now also has maturity on his shoulders. And the way he deals with pressure is quite impressive,” says the team manager. But he also knows that Red Bull now has to give him a car to compete for the title.
So far the Dutchman has been able to win with the team in each of his four years, but there hasn’t been more than a single success. Nevertheless, Horner is not worried that Verstappen could leave Red Bull: “He likes being in the team and believes in the potential.”
Red Bull confirm that Alonso has made himself available for F1 return
According to Marca and Motorsport.com, Red Bull have revealed that Fernando Alonso has made himself available for a return to Formula 1 next year.
Despite taking time away from F1 last year, the paper claims that Alonso has got in touch with them after recent rumours that Verstappen might leave and the obvious poor performances of Pierre Gasly.
Marca’s claims are……. READ MORE
Magnussen confirms why he was dumped
Kevin Magnussen lost his McLaren seat after the 2014 season, a single rookie season, despite an impressive debut against his far more experienced team-mate, the 2009 Drivers Champion Jenson Button. The Dane is certain that he was the victim of a power struggle at the top.
At the 2014 season opener in Melbourne, Magnussen secured himself a place on the podium – and rightly earned a lot of applause for it. The youngster made it eleven more times into the points and finished the season with 55 points overall.
His much more experienced team-mate Jenson Button ended his season with 126 points, more than twice as many as Magnussen, finishing eighth in the standings. The paddock and F1 fans generally accepted that Kevin Magnussen had done a good job for a debut in a particularly uncompetitive car. Despite this, the Dane was……….. READ MORE
Rich Energy twitter hacked / PR stunt…?
This evening a very odd and unannounced statement in the form of a tweet, came from the rather unconventional main sponsor of the Haas Formula 1 team, Rich Energy.
Rich Energy has raised many an eyebrow since it made it’s presence known in the paddock, as far back as 2017. For many, this was a front and not a real business venture, with very few products, if any – being produced. Rich Energy, a drinks brand, surprised many when it was announced they were to be the title sponsor of the Haas F1 team for 2019.
At precisely 18.35 UK time, the twitter account of Rich Energy declared that they had terminated their contract with Haas, citing that the team had failed to…… READ MORE
