Verstappen: 'I already knew then that I was going to drive for Red Bull Racing!'

Max Verstappen's growth in Formula 1 has already gone a long way and his promotion to Red Bull Racing came surprisingly fast. The Dutchman reports he already knew that he would be driving for the top team within a year. 

Max Verstappen undoubtedly made an impression in his Formula 1 debut season, but hardly anyone expected him to join Red Bull Racing after just one and a half seasons. After the unfortunate Russian Grand Prix for Daniil Kvyat, the two drivers suddenly changed seats.

But it wouldn't have taken much longer to make that change, no matter how good Kvyat would be driving for Red Bull Racing that season. "Toro Rosso was doing well, but internally there was a bit of a struggle between the two sides of the team. There were some things going on at Red Bull. I already had a contract for the following year [at Red Bull]. I already knew I was going to go there the year after. I can say that now, it matters to me. I don't care," says Verstappen with a smile in the documentary Whatever it Takes on Ziggo GO.

An important lunch

That switch came earlier than expected, which Jos Verstappen already saw coming. "My father already noticed it after Russia. 'Max, you will be in that Red Bull next race'. I didn't believe it. I said 'you're crazy'". But the prediction of Verstappen senior came true. By the time Jos and Max had landed in Düsseldorf after their flight from Moscow, Jos already had three missed calls from Helmut Marko.

Red Bull Racing's advisor invited them for lunch in Graz but hadn't told them what they were talking about yet. "We spent an hour talking about everything that I thought 'are we still getting to the point? Where am I going to drive or not," continues Verstappen. In the end, Marko explained that they were going to make a driver change, but there was no time to drive the car in advance, they could only fit a seat. "Of course, I was very happy, because when you finally join a top team. I say finally, after one season of Formula 1... That's where you want to go, that's your dream". Now the Dutchman only has one thing left on his To-Do list: to win the championship.