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Stefano Domenicali hopes Max Verstappen’s new Red Bull contract will put an end to claims he could leave Formula 1.
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The Red Bull driver, who is one of the strongest critics of F1’s current regulations, said his uncertainty over agreeing a new deal with his team had been “mainly about actually continuing in Formula 1.”
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix, Domenicali said “the news of Max staying in Red Bull for the next couple of years is a cherry on the cake for this weekend.”
“It’s great news, [I’m] very proud and happy because Max is a world champion, world class person that has a great personality in the sport and I cannot see [imagine] Formula 1 without him.”
In May, Verstappen said it was “mentally not doable for me to stay” if F1 did not alter the power balance between the combustion and electrical parts of its engines next year. It subsequently announced changes will be introduced over the next two years.
“The rules are slowly getting a bit better and, let’s say, I’m willing to live with it,” said Verstappen. “Hopefully by 2030 it opens up another opportunity, potentially with V8 engines coming in, to look again.”
Domenicali hopes Verstappen’s new deal will quieten speculation the popular four-times champion will leave F1. “[I’m] very happy that this news now is official and all these talks that have been happening so far will be out of place,” he said. “Now I’m sure that the focus [will be] for the team to be as good as possible to give Max the best car that he can.”
Doubt continues to hang over the status of F1’s final two rounds this season, which will be held in the Middle East. The conflict in the region has already led F1 to abandon its plans to race in Saudi Arabia in Bahrain this year and arranged for the latter event to take place in Malaysia instead.
Domenicali indicated no decision has yet been taken to cancel the final two rounds in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. “The calendar, as I said, is confirmed, so there are still a few tickets to be sold in Abu Dhabi,” he said. “Everything is progressing well, and we stay focused on delivering the calendar we promised at the beginning of the year.”
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