MIAMI.- The triple Formula 1 world champion, the Dutchman Max Verstappeninsisted this Thursday that the departure of the chief engineer of Red BullAdrián Newey, will not make him reconsider his future in the team.
“From the outside it looks very dramatic, but I think if you really know what's going on inside the team it's not as dramatic as it seems,” Verstappen said.
Red Bull, the world champion team, confirmed on Wednesday Newey's departure at the end of the season, after 19 years with the team.
Ferrari would be among the favorites to hire the services of Newey, 65, considered one of the best engineers in the history of this sport, according to press reports.
“I think over time his role has changed a little bit and I think a lot of people don't understand what he really did,” he added.
“I'm not saying that he wasn't doing anything, but his role has evolved. Many good people have joined the team and have strengthened that entire department,” Verstappen said.
The current leader of the World Drivers' Championship, in turn, ruled out rumors of a big-money offer to sign for Mercedes next season.
“At the end of the day, even if we say that was the case, money is not going to be the differentiating factor for me to go somewhere,” he said.
Verstappen is satisfied:
“I'm happy with what I'm earning right now. It's about performance (…) Everyone knows it, (Mercedes team director) Toto (Wolff) also knows it,” he noted.
Wolff recently said that Formula 1 was waiting for Verstappen to make his future clear and was asked if he found this an odd comment given his stance.
“No, because I believe that everyone should always be optimistic and have hope in things. But for now, I can say that I want to continue in the team because I believe in the project we have.”
“But in sport, as in life, you never know what will happen in the future,” he said.
