'Project' Verstappen top dog at Red Bull?
'Project' Verstappen top dog at Red Bull?
Max Verstappen says that he is Helmut Marko's new "project" at Red Bull and has been earmarked as a title-winner to match Sebastian Vettel's achievements with the team. Verstappen's claim comes at a time where team-mate Daniel Ricciardo is considering his Red Bull future as his contract ends this year.
While Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until 2020, Ricciardo is reportedly a target for bother Mercedes and Ferrari, with the Australian looking to land in a race-winning car from next year.
Vettel himself jumped ship to the Scuderia after following four title-winning years on the trot with a frustrating start to the hybrid era - frustrations that have persisted at Red Bull thanks to their Renault engines failing to match Mercedes or Ferrari's.
Verstappen certainly seems fully committed to the cause, though, outlining his special status with the team's motorsport adviser Marko.
"I am his new project," Verstappen told Germany's Auto Bild. "He wants to repeat the Vettel story and win world championships.
"I know that records are very important to Sebastian, and for me it would be nice, but records aren't something I really need in my life.
"As long as I am world champion one day, that's the most important thing to me."
Verstappen's thrilling, aggressive style has swiftly earned him fan-favourite status, while making him a marked man among his fellow drivers.
The 20-year-old says his attacking instincts would be curbed if he were in direct competition for the title this year, however.
"In a title fight, I would take fewer risks, because a second place can bring you closer to your goal than a failure. It's just a different mental approach," he says.
"Last year I wanted to win at any cost, because I had nothing to lose. But I believe I know exactly what I have to do to become world champion."
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Schumacher reveals what F1 pundits are NOT allowed to say about Red Bull
- 7 minutes ago
Hamilton struggles pinned on Mercedes by team's OWN driver
- 1 hour ago
Verstappen issues MAYHEM warning to F1 bosses
- 1 hour ago
Ferrari announce HUGE F1 change to iconic red livery
- 2 hours ago
F1 News Today: Hamilton and Verstappen rivalry takes SHOCK twist as F1 team 'set to announce' mega signing
- Today 05:57
Horner Red Bull saga in new 'evidence' update as big F1 star left 'very angry' - GPFans F1 Recap
- Yesterday 23:57
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860