Before the passing of the Red Bull founder, Max Verstappen had shared a very clear dream for his Formula 1 career: to remain loyal to the Austrian team until the end.
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Max Verstappen has never hidden the importance that Dietrich Mateschitz had in his career. The founder of Red Bull, who passed away in October 2022, played a decisive role in the Dutch driver’s rise in Formula 1.
It was he who notably allowed Verstappen to join the Red Bull program when he was only 16 years old. Over the years, a relationship of trust developed between the two men.
Before the Austrian entrepreneur’s passing, the driver had even shared a very clear personal goal with him: to remain loyal to Red Bull for the entire duration of his F1 career.
“I remember when Dietrich was still alive, I told him about my dream – and also his – that I stay here forever, as long as my career lasted.”
A long contract that confirms this ambition
This desire to commit long-term with the Austrian team materialized in March 2022. At that time, Verstappen had signed one of the longest contracts in the recent history of Formula 1.
The world champion had extended his commitment with Red Bull until the end of the 2028 season. This choice sent a clear message: the Dutchman was seriously considering spending his entire career with the same team.
“I am very happy that I was able to tell him, before his passing, that my intention was always to realize this dream. And for now, everything is going quite well.”
Since then, despite several rumors of departure, Verstappen has remained loyal to the structure that launched him at the highest level.
Recurring transfer rumors
Over the seasons, the name of the four-time world champion has nevertheless been regularly associated with other teams. The speculation has notably been fueled by certain performance clauses present in his contract.
These provisions could theoretically allow him to leave Red Bull if certain sporting conditions are not met.
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But so far, the results obtained by Verstappen and his team have systematically rendered these clauses ineffective. The driver has remained at the heart of the Austrian team’s project.
A rare loyalty in Formula 1
In a sport where transfers are frequent, Verstappen believes that his loyalty to Red Bull is one of the highlights of his career.
“It’s quite special, because normally a driver isn’t necessarily the most stable element in a team. So I’m proud of that.”
Since his promotion from Toro Rosso to Red Bull at the start of the 2016 season, the Dutchman has remained within the same environment. However, it took him several years before reaching the top.
His first world title only arrived in 2021, five years after his arrival in the main team.
Feeling at home in a team
For Verstappen, the choice of a team is not just about performance: “Loyalty is something very important to me, and that’s not always the case in Formula 1. But that’s how I operate.”
He recognizes that success often leads to changes in an organization. When results come, the members of a team are regularly courted by other structures.
“When you have a lot of success, it is normal that certain people are recruited elsewhere. It’s the very nature of the sport.”
But for the Dutch champion, one element remains essential: “You have to feel like yourself in a team. At this stage of my career, after having already won so much, it’s almost as important as pure performance.”
A mindset that explains why, despite the rumors and opportunities, Verstappen still seems determined to remain faithful to the dream he once shared with Dietrich Mateschitz.
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