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Red Bull bans Verstappen from trying out MotoGP!

He's only 21 years old, but could Max Verstappen already be suffering from a case of itchy feet?

Having conquered the top ranks of Formula 1 with seeming ease, it looks like he might be casting his eye around at other possible challenges in the world of motorsport.

That includes two wheels as well as four, having just purchased a customised Harley Davidson motorcycle in recent weeks.

“I have asked the team if I can try a MotoGP bike,” he told De Telegraaf newspaper this week.

“I’d love to try one on a circuit, such as the Red Bull Ring," he admitted. "Red Bull is also a sponsor in MotoGP with Honda and KTM.

“But no chance," he added quickly. “They absolutely said no. It is not allowed, they think it’s too dangerous. So that’s it.”

Although it's tempting, it doesn't seem as though a switch to motorcycling will distract Verstappen from his real goal of picking up four titles by the time he reaches his next 'significant' birthday.

"Hopefully in two years' time we will have the whole package together," he told Sky Sports F1 recently when asked how he saw his future.

"Then I'll be more or less 23, so then we have another six, seven years to win championships. So hopefully around four," he said, "that would be nice."

Verstappen's father Jos certainly believes that his son is on course to achieve his dreams over the next decade.

"He learns more from every race. I think that Max has grown tremendously this year," said the former Benetton, Tyrrell, Arrows and Minardi driver.

He's hoping that Red Bull's switch to Honda power in 2019 will give the team the boost it needs to make Verstappen a title challenger.

“Max knows exactly what is happening. He hasn’t been there this year, but he did go to Honda last year," he said.

"They [Red Bull] need to finish this season decently, as professionally as possible and then they can have a fresh start next year."

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Michael Delaney

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