Red Bull react to Verstappen retirement threat as Brundle proved right

F1 preview: A lap of the Miami Grand Prix

Christian Horner has admitted Red Bull are not worried about Max Verstappen’s retirement claims weeks after Martin Brundle suggested the driver’s words were an empty threat. The Red Bull team boss stressed there is “no imminent risk” Verstappen could walk away from the sport despite the Dutchman’s previous rumblings.

The reigning champion claimed he could quit F1 if bosses kept introducing more sprint races. However, Horner has defended Verstappen’s remarks and said it is “great” that drivers share their opinions openly.

Speaking in Friday’s press conference ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, Horner said: “Well, thankfully, his contract has many years to run on it, so we don’t see that as an imminent risk. But, you know, of course, he has an opinion on it and he’ll always speak openly on it and voice his opinion.

“And I think that it’s so hard to look too far down the road. Did Fernando Alonso think he’d be racing at 42? Probably not. I mean, Lewis Hamilton is in his latter 30s. So the future is just so difficult to predict. But I think it’s great that drivers do have opinions and they don’t just become stereotypes.”

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Verstappen made the remarks ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as he called out F1 chiefs’ desire to change the race format. The 25-year-old refused to back the updates as he did not want the sport to not deviate from its DNA.

He explained: “I hope there won’t be too many changes, otherwise I won’t be around for too long. I am not a fan of it at all. When we do all that kind of stuff, the weekend becomes very intense and we already do a lot of races. But it is not the right way to go about it.”

Sky Sports host Martin Brundle called out Verstappen’s suggestions as the pitlane reporter refused to accept he would walk away from the quickest car on the grid.

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When asked if Verstappen was being serious, Brundle told Sky Sports News: “Ah I’ll be surprised. But if he doesn’t want to drive it there will be a million other people who do want to drive that Red Bull. I think what he’s trying to say is don’t mess around too much, Let’s just evolve and message this along.

“It’s not the first time Verstappen has hinted he could be prepared to hang up his helmet.” Last season, the Dutchman made it clear he could quit when his current Red Bull deal expires in 2028.

He commented: “It also probably depends how competitive we are in ’28. I’ve still got time. I don’t want to make drastic decisions now.”

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