Red Bull Racing retains Verstappen for upcoming seasons
Ferrari Extends Fred Vasseur's Contract Amidst Formula 1 Struggles
Ferrari has shown faith in team principal Fred Vasseur, extending his contract as they look to turn around their fortunes in Formula 1.
The extension is a clear sign of trust in Vasseur's leadership, with drivers like Charles Leclerc praising his ability to remain calm under pressure as a key strength. Leclerc has also praised Vasseur's leadership, stating that it has been instrumental in their team's performance.
However, Ferrari has not won a race this year, putting pressure on Vasseur to deliver results. He sees the contract extension as a challenge, stating that they must build on the strong foundations they have laid over the past 30 months with consistency and determination.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen's contract with Red Bull runs through 2028. There was speculation that a performance-related clause in his contract could allow him to exit early, but the details of this clause are not public. Verstappen is currently in discussions with Red Bull about the plans for next year.
Reports suggested that Verstappen and Toto Wolff, Mercedes boss, had their yachts in the same location off the Italian island of Sardinia, but Verstappen has clarified that this does not imply a working relationship between them. Verstappen has also stated that he can have a personal relationship with someone without necessarily having a working relationship with them.
George Russell, a driver for Mercedes, had speculated that his team was holding talks with Verstappen, but there has been no confirmation of this. Russell is currently in fourth place in the World Drivers' Championship, while Verstappen is securely in third, with a points gap that makes it impossible for Russell to overtake him before the summer break.
In other news, Charles Leclerc has mentioned that the situation at Ferrari has been complicated by the "hype around the team" after Lewis Hamilton's arrival and narrowly missing out on the constructors' championship last year.
Despite the challenges, both Ferrari and Red Bull are looking to the future, with Vasseur and Verstappen committed to their respective teams for the foreseeable future.
[1] BBC Sport. (2022, June 28). Max Verstappen: Red Bull extend contract with Dutch driver to 2028. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/61936663
[2] Motorsport.com. (2022, June 28). Max Verstappen's Red Bull contract extension explained. Retrieved from https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/max-verstappens-red-bull-contract-extension-explained/11074808/
[3] Sky Sports. (2022, June 28). Max Verstappen extends Red Bull contract until 2028. Retrieved from https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12412/12535892/max-verstappen-extends-red-bull-contract-until-2028
[4] The Guardian. (2022, June 28). Max Verstappen signs new Red Bull deal to 2028. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/jun/28/max-verstappen-signs-new-red-bull-deal-to-2028
During the extended contract discussions, Max Verstappen's commitment to Red Bull was reaffirmed, potentially opening doors for high-stakes collaborations in other sports or racing events.
As both Ferrari and Red Bull look ahead, it's not unlikely that we could witness Vasseur and Verstappen engaging in friendly racing competitions outside of Formula 1, each testing their skills in various races.
