No Ferrari switch for Max Verstappen, says Marko

©WRI2

Red Bull insists it won't be losing Max Verstappen to a rival team like Ferrari before his contract runs out.

The F1 silly season seems to kick off earlier each year, and did such that yesterday with rumors that Sebastian Vettel has signed a pre-agreement with Mercedes for 2018.

Should that unlikely prospect turn out to be true, paddock pundits are already putting Max Verstappen in the Prancing Horse's saddle, but Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko is discarding the silly talk.

Vettel at Mercedes: signed and sealed says insider!

Although the 19-year-old Dutch prodigy is under contract for 2018, it is also rumored that his deal contains a clause that might let him leave Red Bull for performance reasons.

"Contrary to all rumours, there is no performance clause in Verstappen's contract," Marko told Auto Bild.

"If we do not release him, he cannot switch to Ferrari."

The matter has thus been put to rest.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.