Rumors about Max Verstappen
Never before in 2024 has there been so much talk about Max Verstappen’s future. For almost half the season, there have been discussions about potential discontent—real or perceived—of the Dutch superstar, and Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team principal, made a strong pitch for Max Verstappen before officially signing young Andrea Kimi Antonelli to wear the black-silver suit. However, the Dutch world champion has also fueled rumors about his possible imminent retirement in response to various aspects of F1 he dislikes, from Sprint races to the unusual controversy regarding swearing, which has put him directly at odds with FIA officials.
A key year to understand the future
Adding to all this is the sudden drop in performance from Red Bull—coupled with the well-known internal disputes within the team—that is forcing Verstappen to defend himself against the strong resurgence of Lando Norris and McLaren, who are now more than just a threat for the 2024 Formula 1 title. According to former manager Eddie Jordan, now a respected commentator on his podcast Formula For Success, the outcome of this championship could determine Max Verstappen’s future in F1, even though the Dutchman has a contract with Red Bull valid until the end of 2028.
Eddie Jordan’s ‘advice’
“That car (the Red Bull) is still incredibly fast, and I still believe Max can win this championship,” said the Irish manager, “but if they haven’t found that certain magic, which has definitely disappeared recently, it’s a problem. I hope for them that they find it.” Then comes the market-oriented jab: “Will Max stay there (at Red Bull) until 2026 or 2027? I don’t know the answer. But if you want to be sure he will, then it’s best to find these problems and solve them. I would say Max needs to win the championship this year, in 2024, to be sure he’ll still be there in 2027.” – Eddie Jordan concluded on this matter.
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