Max Verstappen: Jos retweets 'Verstappen could leave Red Bull' article

Max Verstappen

Jos retweets 'Verstappen could leave Red Bull' article

Oops, Jos!

Matthew Scott

Monday 10 June 2019 17:15

Jos Verstappen may have fielded a tetchy phonecall from his son Max after appearing to share an article on social media that suggested he could leave Red Bull in the future. An interview with Dr Helmut Marko emerged over the Canadian GP weekend in which he was quoted as admitting fears that the Dutchman could go.

Marko has previously confirmed that performance clauses in Verstappen's deal could make him free to depart the team.

It has been reported that failing to finish in the top three of the constructors' championship could leave Red Bull at risk to losing Verstappen, although they are 94 points ahead of fourth-placed McLaren after seven races in 2019.

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Jos Verstappen's account retweeted an article carrying Marko's latest claims, with a likely unintended result of possibly endorsing the quotes. The account later retracted the retweet.

"I am the driver, not my father," Verstappen said in response.

"I'm enjoying myself but of course we all know that we need to do better. But I believe in the project that we are in with Honda, we're working hard now to try to step up the performance."

Verstappen finished fifth in Canada, his lowest placing at the chequered flag so far this year, having started ninth after Kevin Magnussen's crash in qualifying denied him progression from Q2 by dint of triggering red flags as he sat outside the top 10.