28 June 2024 , 15:02
1089
0
Max Verstappen is one of the simplest people in the Formula 1 paddock... and I mean that as a compliment.
For the most part, he's a straight-shooter who says exactly what's on his mind. He is often criticised for that but, as elite sports stars are media trained to within an inch of their lives these days, his honesty is refreshing.
But it makes you wonder why he still can't give a straight answer about his future. Verstappen has a Red Bull contract until 2028 but, in reality, can get out of it whenever he wants.
Toto Wolff would do everything short of pledging his first-born child to get the Dutchman to join Mercedes and his advances have led to Verstappen being asked many times whether he would consider leaving Red Bull at the end of the season.
In Austria this weekend, he gave his strongest indication yet that he is not planning to deviate from his current path. But Verstappen was asked if he could close the matter by specifically stating he will drive for Red Bull in 2025 - and failed to do so.
Inside the driver call which upset Red Bull and changed the course of F1 history
Wolff pointed that out in an interview he later did and, as a result, still sees the door as being slightly ajar. And you can't blame him - all while there is even the slightest chance of the best driver on the grid over the last few years being available.
Surely Verstappen realises that the questions will keep coming - and Toto will keep nagging - until he says he's definitely going nowhere?
Back of the grid
Save for a sudden change of heart, it seems Oliver Bearman is going to be joined by Esteban Ocon at Haas next year. The Frenchman is a very good driver but it's hard to think of a worse team-mate for Britain's rising star.
Ocon has had problems with most of his team-mates throughout his F1 career and, though he claims he knows how to play nice, his record tells a different story. Bearman needs someone to help him make the transition into F1 as smoothly as possible and to guide him as he learns his trade.
Ocon, for all his positive attributes, is simply not that guy.
From the archive
Niki Lauda on track in his McLaren en route to victory in Austria (Paul-Henri Cahier/Getty Images)Niki Lauda became the first and only Austrian to win his home race in 1984. It proved to be a vital result as he took that year's championship by just half a point.
Fast fact
Seven of the last 11 pole positions at the Red Bull Ring have been decided by less than a tenth of a second, so expect a nail-biting qualifying session today.
Inside track
Williams were preparing an announcement that they had signed Carlos Sainz, until a late offer from Alpine turned the Spaniard's head and caused him to again delay a decision over his future.