P1racenews AI automatic summary:
“It’s a lot of noise. I think Max gets quite annoyed by it. We’re very clear that the contract we have with Max is until 2028.”
Red Bull boss Christian Horner has stated that Max Verstappen is bothered by the constant rumors surrounding his F1 future. Mercedes’ interest in signing Verstappen is the major focus in the Austrian GP paddock this weekend, with ongoing talks between Mercedes and Verstappen being revealed by George Russell in an interview. Verstappen is currently under contract at Red Bull until 2028, but there are speculations about an exit clause in his deal. Mercedes is considering signing Verstappen, with Toto Wolff suggesting a potential retention of Russell and Kimi Antonelli for next year. The new technical regulations could lead to a competitive order shake-up that might entice Verstappen to leave Red Bull, especially if they are not competitive. Finally, in the qualifying for the Austrian GP, Verstappen will start from seventh on the grid due to encountering a yellow flag on his final run, costing him a potential front-row starting position.
