Max Verstappen has poured cold water on the romantic notion of racing in Ferrari red, insisting he would only consider joining the Scuderia under one clear condition.
The four-time world champion is locked in with Red Bull, theoretically until the end of 2027. But Mercedes is keeping a close eye on events, especially with new technical regulations set to shake up the grid next year, a change that could affect Verstappen’s course.
Speaking ahead of this weekend's Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the four-time world champion made clear that prestige alone would never sway his career choices.
So, could the House of Maranello, with its storied legacy, ever tempt him?
“I think Ferrari is a massive brand,” Verstappen said. “All the drivers, they see and they picture themselves there, ‘I would like to drive for Ferrari’. But I think that’s also where the mistake comes, just to drive for Ferrari.
“If I would ever want to go there, I don’t go there just to drive for Ferrari, I go there because I see the opportunity to win.
“And if you win with Ferrari, that’s even better. And that’s I think where you shouldn’t let yourself get guided just because of the emotions and passion of a brand, you need to go there because you feel that is the right place to go.”
Not on the Horizon. But Who knows?
For Verstappen, it’s not about the romance of the Prancing Horse – it’s about results. Ferrari’s current lineup, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton signed on multi-year deals, leaves little room for speculation.
But Hamilton’s tough debut season, with no podiums in 15 races, has ignited speculation about the Briton’s future in red.
The seven-time champ is battling a well-entrenched Leclerc, and another rough year could spark retirement talk. Could that open a door for Verstappen? He’s not holding his breath.
“They have two drivers contracted for next year, so there is no discussion anyway,” he said. “Now, is there a chance? Yes, there are a lot of chances in life for any kind of decision.
“Of course, at the moment that is not on the horizon, but who knows? I don’t even know how long I’m driving in Formula 1, so there are still a lot of unknowns for me.
“It’s always very difficult to know what is going to happen, right?”
Hamilton’s Ferrari Struggles
Verstappen weighed in on Hamilton’s troubled start at Ferrari, and suggested the 40-year-old’s challenge is made tougher by Leclerc’s deep roots at Maranello.
“I cannot look into how he [Hamilton] was operating at Mercedes, how he feels personally, what is going on also in the [Ferrari] team right now. I don’t have any information on that,” commented the Red Bull driver.
©Ferrari
“The thing is, he joined a team that already has a very strong driver with Charles, so it’s never going to be easy to immediately go in there and start beating your teammate who is well integrated, knows the team very well, speaks the language.
“But these cars can be quite complicated at times to fully understand why you’re quick or not, basically.”
With Ferrari’s prestige not enough to sway him, Verstappen’s laser focus on winning sets a high bar for any team hoping to lure him away from Red Bull.
The Dutchman’s comments serve as a reminder: in F1, glory comes from results, not just the badge on the car. For now, Monza’s tifosi can dream of Verstappen in red – but he’s made it clear he’s not here for fantasies.
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