The announcement comes in the midst of the ongoing saga around Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, who following an independent investigation in March, was cleared of an inappropriate behaviour towards a female employee. The complainant is currently appealing that verdict, with the issue reportedly causing a fallout between the Englishman and team advisor Helmut Marko.
And Brown, who was later able to celebrate a maiden win for Lando Norris in America, last week implied that a host of Red Bull staff members were also now considering their futures. “I think giving everything that’s gone on since the start of the year, and knowing Adrian pretty well, he’s a very high-integrity individual,” Brown told reporters following Friday’s FP1.
“I’m not surprised he’s moving on. I think the stuff that’s going on there is a bit destabilising, which is probably the first domino to fall, and my guess is it won’t be the last based on the résumés that are flying around.”
But the three-time world champion has now dismissed those comments, and accused Brown of simply trying to unsettle Red Bull personnel. “He obviously wants to stir things up,” said Verstappen. “For us as a team, we can’t do anything with comments like that.
“From his point of view, I understand it of course, because everyone is trying to attract our people and that is completely normal in the world of Formula 1 as well. But I’m not really interested in those things either. I see the headlines, but I don’t even click on them.”
Despite the drama plaguing Red Bull’s campaign, it’s Verstappen who is still the runaway leader in the drivers’ standings, 33 points clear of team-mate Segio Perez. The pair are also 52 points clear in the constructors’ race.
But the 26-year-old has also found himself the subject of speculation, after his dad, Jos, publicly called for Horner to be removed. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has reportedly looked to capitalise by making an audacious bid to sign the Dutchman to replace Lewis Hamilton for 2025.
Verstappen remains contracted at Red Bull until the end of the 2028 campaign. Despite being coy amid questions over his future, he has still voiced his intentions to see out the deal.
