He’s very close with Helmut [Marko] – Helmut
likes him, Max likes Helmut – it’s always been
like that. Helmut is a big fan of Max. I think he
is the kind of driver Helmut likes. Also, the way
Max is – straightforward – I think Helmut is
a bit like that.
“During the endof th e year we were discussing
the options –you want to be ina top tea m
[Ferrari,Mercedes or Red Bull], we were not
thi nki ng about the others.The position Max
has in the team where he is now, to create
that somewhere else Ithink takes a couple of
years. Red Bull has shown that it can do it [win
championships] and now with the rules [staying]
the samethis year it will be a very important year
for them.And also withHonda...Max and Honda
really work [well] together. AndI think it’s a bit
like, you know, he wantsto show them thathe
can do it withRed Bull and Honda, together.
“Maybe therewere some options in another
team,” Jos continues. “But I think the time is not
there yet. With the rule change for 2021 I think
it’s a gamble. It doesn’t say if you goto another
team that you’re going to win, because maybe
Red Bull is gonna create something veryspecial.All in all, that’s why we decidedto stay.”
In terms of reading the market, Jos also
thinks Hamilton “will continue two more
years with Mercedes”, which naturally limits
Max’s options when you consider Leclerc’s
own new long-term contract with Ferrari and
the fact Max is on record saying “you shouldn’t
have two potential number ones driving next
to each other”. He and Red Bull already know
the pitfalls of this approach, from the explosive
start to Verstappen’s final seasonpaire d with
Ricciardo in 2018...
Talk of Ricciardo is apt. The Australian made
a highly lucrative decision to leave Red Bull
for Renault at the end of 2018.Information
pertaining to a recent legaldispu te with his
former manager Glenn Beavis, now settled out
of court, suggests Ricciardo isearning more
than £20million per year at the French team.
Verstappen’s new contract was reported as being
worth $16million per season (£12.4million), but
Jos says that figure is “not correct”.
“I tell you Max is very, very well paid – top
two, top three,” Jos says. “The Ricciardo deal is
less than us... It’s definitely good. Max is very“IT DOESN’T SAY
IF YOU GO TO
ANOTHER TEAM
THAT YOU’RE
GOING TO WIN,
BECAUSE MAYBE
RED BULL IS
GONNA CREATE
SOMETHING VERY
SPECIAL. ALL IN
ALL, THAT’S WHY
WE DECIDED
TO S TAY”
JOS VERSTAPPEN66 GP RACING MARCH 2020
2020 SEASON PREVIEW
He’s very close with Helmut [Marko] – Helmut
likes him, Max likes Helmut – it’s always been
like that. Helmut is a big fan of Max. I think he
is the kind of driver Helmut likes. Also, the way
Max is – straightforward – I think Helmut is
a bit like that.
“During the endof th e year we were discussing
the options –you want to be ina top tea m
[Ferrari,Mercedes or Red Bull], we were not
thi nki ng about the others.The position Max
has in the team where he is now, to create
that somewhere else Ithink takes a couple of
years. Red Bull has shown that it can do it [win
championships] and now with the rules [staying]
the samethis year it will be a very important year
for them.And also withHonda...Max and Honda
really work [well] together. AndI think it’s a bit
like, you know, he wantsto show them thathe
can do it withRed Bull and Honda, together.
“Maybe therewere some options in another
team,” Jos continues. “But I think the time is not
there yet. With the rule change for 2021 I think
it’s a gamble. It doesn’t say if you goto another
team that you’re going to win, because maybe
Red Bull is gonna create something veryspecial.All in all, that’s why we decidedto stay.”
In terms of reading the market, Jos also
thinks Hamilton “will continue two more
years with Mercedes”, which naturally limits
Max’s options when you consider Leclerc’s
own new long-term contract with Ferrari and
the fact Max is on record saying “you shouldn’t
have two potential number ones driving next
to each other”. He and Red Bull already know
the pitfalls of this approach, from the explosive
start to Verstappen’s final seasonpaire d with
Ricciardo in 2018...
Talk of Ricciardo is apt. The Australian made
a highly lucrative decision to leave Red Bull
for Renault at the end of 2018.Information
pertaining to a recent legaldispu te with his
former manager Glenn Beavis, now settled out
of court, suggests Ricciardo isearning more
than £20million per year at the French team.
Verstappen’s new contract was reported as being
worth $16million per season (£12.4million), but
Jos says that figure is “not correct”.
“I tell you Max is very, very well paid – top
two, top three,” Jos says. “The Ricciardo deal is
less than us... It’s definitely good. Max is very“IT DOESN’T SAY
IF YOU GO TO
ANOTHER TEAM
THAT YOU’RE
GOING TO WIN,
BECAUSE MAYBE
RED BULL IS
GONNA CREATE
SOMETHING VERY
SPECIAL. ALL IN
ALL, THAT’S WHY
WE DECIDED
TO S TAY”
JOS VERSTAPPEN66 GP RACING MARCH 2020
2020 SEASON PREVIEW