Max Verstappen called a question on his future with Red Bull “slippery” as he focused on his efforts to dethrone Lewis Hamilton.
The Dutchman is out of contract at the end of 2020 and there is a lot of speculation he will opt to jump ship to Mercedes for 2021, potentially teaming up with the six-time champion.
For the time being, however, Max is playing his cards close to his chest, insisting his focus remain with his current employers.
“That’s a ‘slippery’ question. I am happy with where I am and I want to win with Red Bull,” he told Italy’s Corriere della Sera.
“It is the team that allowed me to enter F1, there is a sense of loyalty to them. Here I feel at home.”
At the same time, however…
“I want to win the World Championship. I didn’t win it, so the answer is no,” the 22-year-old replied when asked if he was satisfied with his 2019 season.
“I say this despite two race wins, five other podiums and, in the beginning, good continuity based on fourth and fifth places.”
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But having had to sit back and watch Hamilton win his third straight title and fifth in six years, however, Verstappen admitted his frustration.
“It’s getting a bit boring seeing Lewis win, so we have to try and change that,” he said at a sponsor event this week.
“He’s getting older, so for sure it will stop at one point. It’s just going to depend on the team, to be honest, it’s not going to depend on Lewis.
“If Mercedes keeps building really dominant cars, for sure he’s going to win. So we just have to make sure as a team that we can beat them.
“I think we are on the right path,” Max added. “When you see the engine power compared to Mercedes and Renault, we are very close to Mercedes now so that is very promising for next year.”