Verstappen warns Red Bull 'everything open' for 2021

Red Bull's hopes of retaining Max Verstappen beyond next year will rest solely on the team's ability to deliver a title-winning car, says the Dutchman's father, Jos.

Despite taking two victories in 2019, Verstappen is 99 points adrift of championship leader Lewis Hamilton, as the Mercedes man has blown away the competition in 2019 en route to a near-certain sixth world title.

A quit start to the season as Red Bull got to grips with the 2019 regulation changes and their new Honda power units left Verstappen with huge ground to make up, and he has slipped further back across the last two grands prix, which saw him retire in Belgium and then finish eighth in Italy from the back of the grid.

Reports earlier this year suggested that exit clauses might have been activated in Verstappen's contract if certain parameters were not met, although it is expected that wins in Austria and Germany have eased Red Bull's worries in that regard.

However, former F1 racer Jos says the situation will be very different next year, when Max enters the final year of his Red Bull deal, while Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel will be in a similar position at Mercedes and Ferrari respectively.

"The most important thing is that we get a car with which Max can compete for the title," he told Ziggo.

"Next year we will be at Red Bull anyway, but everything will still be open before 2021. It will really depend on whether we will get a car in 2020 we can fight for the championship.

"We are concentrating on next season and will look further afterwards."

Verstappen sits third in the drivers' championship, but is now just three points ahead of Charles Leclerc following the Ferrari star's wins in Belgium in Monza.

Upcoming races in Singapore, Japan and Mexico are expected to play more into Red Bull's favour, however.

Related

F1 Superstars

Wolff 'p*****' by Verstappen error as star makes Mercedes debut

• Yesterday 09:57

F1 Off The Track

Hamilton gains HUGE win over Verstappen at unusual venue

• April 17, 2024 21:13