31/08/2025

theSun on Sunday AUG 31, 2025

SPORTS 11

SUNDAY | AUG 31, 2025

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Speculation squashed Verstappen staying at Red Bull in 2026 a ‘simple’ decision

FOUR-TIME world champion Max Verstappen didn’t get stressed by widespread specu lation in recent months that he might leave Red Bull Racing for Mercedes in 2026. In fact, he said “it was very, very simple” in making the decision to stay with Red Bull. He is under contract until the 2028 Formula 1 season but had a potential exit clause based on his championship points stand ing that ended up not being triggered. “I only say what I want to say,” Verstappen told ESPN in a report published Friday. “And I was never even stressed about it at all because … of course naturally you always want to win. But at the same time, you just work on per formance. “People always come up with stories or ask questions. But for me, it was quite straightforward all the time.” For someone in an intense profession, this matter did not put him in duress. “I think in gen

there’s nothing wrong with talking or listening (to offers) or whatever, but it was all under control.” What wasn’t in his control were the statements coming from Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who in Verstappen’s own words has a good relationship with the driver. Wolff was openly interested in the possi bility of signing Verstappen, even holding up contract exte nsion negotiations with

Mercedes star driver George Russell. It didn’t help that social media went viral with images of Wolff and Verstappen spend ing time together on a yacht this summer. Both were vaca tioning in Sardinia. “There’s no secret,” Verstappen said. “I mean, I even went for lunch with Toto and the family and I think that’s absolutely allowed. It’s not even that you speak about Formula 1 business, it’s just life. We parked up next to each other because we were in the same bay to sleep and during the day everyone does their thing. “But sometimes you meet up and you have a good relation ship with people. I think that’s nice, that it’s not only about competition.” Verstappen is third in the drivers standings with 187 points, trailing Oscar Piastri (284) and Lando Norris (275), both of McLaren. The exit clause would have allowed him to leave Red Bull at the end of the 2025 season if he were fourth or lower after the Hungarian Grand Prix on Aug 3, ESPN reported. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton had struggled in FP1 when he nearly spun out at turn two but managed to regain control to stay on the track, although he had a moment of deja vu in FP2 with another 360 ° spin. He recovered to finish sixth fastest while teammate Charles Leclerc was eighth, a marked improvement after the two Ferraris finished 14th and 15th in FP1, prompting Leclerc to say they were “miles off” the pace on the team radio. Rain clouds steered clear of the Zandvoort circuit and once the track was bathed in sunshine, Norris took charge with the fastest lap, clocking one minute 9.890 seconds. The session was red-flagged a second time when Alex Albon, fifth-fastest in P1, locked up a front tyre and crashed his Williams on turn one, damaging his front wing. “It’s incredibly windy and we are seeing drivers getting caught out with gusts of wind,“ Williams team principal James Vowles said. – Reuters Verstappen has two wins and five podium finishes this year. In his career, the num bers are 65 and 117, respectively. He had double-digit race wins from 2021-23 with 10, 15 and 19. – Field Level Media

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eral, I’m a person that is always quite relaxed about it,” said Verstappen, 27. “Like I don’t stress out or go to bed massively overthinking stuff. “I just live my life, you know, see what happens next. For me,

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Norris sets early pace at Dutch GP practice

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MCLAREN’S Norris sounded a warning to teammate and Formula One championship leader Oscar Piastri when the Briton topped the first and second Dutch Grand Prix practice sessions which were marred by crashes and red flags on Friday. Piastri had been second fastest in the first session (FP1) but the Australian was pipped to second place in FP2 by Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, with both drivers completing lap times within a tenth of a second of Norris. The two McLaren drivers are separated by nine points in the championship battle with 10 races left. “Today was a good day … The car was handling well. I felt we made some good improvements from FP1 to FP2 but, at the same time, the others caught up more than we would like,” said Norris, who has won three of the last four races. “Even the Aston and Fernando were more quick than they have been recently. A good start but a bit closer than we’d like.” Lando

George Russell was fourth fastest for Mercedes while home favourite Max Verstappen improved one place on his sixth fastest from FP1. The second session began amid a light drizzle, although not enough for a switch to wet tyres. But the session was red flagged early on when Lance Stroll, who was third-fastest in FP1, locked up on the banked corner at turn three and crashed into the wall, severely damaging his car. “Just a little lock-up and I was a passenger. One of those things,” Stroll said. “We looked competitive throughout the day, so we are in a good spot and will see what we can do tomorrow.” The session also provided drama in the pit lane when Piastri, who was asked to go around his teammate, swerved back into the path of Russell. The pair nearly made contact as the Briton took evasive action when he braked. Piastri was summoned by the stewards and the team were fined € 5,000 (RM24,656).

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