Max Verstappen's Annoyance with Mercedes Speculation

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has revealed that recent rumors linking Max Verstappen to Mercedes have 'annoyed' the four-time world champion. This speculation has been a hot topic during the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, with Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff confirming his interest in Verstappen. However, Wolff emphasized that the likelihood of Verstappen leaving Red Bull is 'very low,' especially since he is under contract until 2028.

The Impact on George Russell

The rumors have also affected Mercedes driver George Russell, whose contract renewal talks have been delayed due to the team's interest in Verstappen. Horner downplayed the speculation, stating that it is 'a lot of noise' and that Verstappen is focused on his current team. 'We're very clear with the contract that we have with Max until 2028,' Horner told Sky Sports. 'Anything is entirely speculative that is being said. We tend not to pay too much attention to it.'

Verstappen's Performance in Austria

Verstappen qualified seventh for the Austrian Grand Prix after a challenging session. He was forced to abort his fastest lap due to yellow flags following Pierre Gasly's spin. Despite this, Verstappen remains optimistic about his performance in the race. 'It would have been close, potentially, up until the yellow flag -- but it's still miles off pole,' Verstappen said. 'In the end, it's not really that painful.'

Looking Ahead

As the championship progresses, Verstappen is currently third in the drivers' standings, 43 points behind leader Oscar Piastri. He remains focused on improving his performance and staying competitive with Ferrari and Mercedes. 'Hopefully tomorrow we can at least be competitive with Ferrari, or Mercedes, but I don't know because with the balance I had in quali that is not going to look great tomorrow,' Verstappen added. 'We'll analyse everything.'