Max Verstappen makes Red Bull declaration with 'grass is always greener' verdict

Max Verstappen has highlighted how the "grass is always greener on the other side" to dispel the persistent speculation linking him with a move to Mercedes.

Over the past week, the Dutchman has found himself at the heart of a media frenzy over his future, instigated by the driver he theoretically would be replacing at the Brackley-based squad, George Russell.

The pair are known to have a fractious relationship, something that adds a level of intrigue to a situation which in itself is nothing new.

Mercedes team principal is a longtime admirer of Verstappen and has made no bones about his desire to see the four-time F1 drivers' champion race for him one day.

However, at the start of the campaign, the 53-year-old made it clear he had no intention of speaking to other drivers.

But that has now changed, with Russell the one to break the news that the Red Bull driver was speaking to Mercedes over the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, with his own negotiations over a contract extension put on the back burner.

Wolff missed out on Verstappen a decade ago, at the advent of his F1 career, and current Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli has been considered the antidote for that episode, meaning he would likely stay to partner the 27-year-old.

The hypothetical interest on Verstappen's side is that Red Bull has fallen behind McLaren and is considered by some to be sliding into decline, whilst Mercedes, which also supplies McLaren power units, is well-positioned to take advantage of the F1 rules overhaul.

Nonetheless, Verstappen insists he knows what he has with the Milton Keynes team and feels "other people can make up more stories" about his situation.

"I think that's a story in life because you can always see the grass is always greener on the other side, that's what they say, right?" he said to Sky Sports F1.

"I think you always have to just stay calm and enjoy also what you are doing because, I think up until now, I've had a lot of success. This season is maybe not what we want as a team, but that can happen as well. Sometimes you just have to try to accept that as well.

"Then, of course, other people make up more stories, but that's not for me. I know what I have, I know what I can do, and that's fine."

'Sometimes you luck in'

After tapping into that cautionary proverb, the Red Bull driver pointed out how his current situation could end up being the right one in future seasons, underlining the uncertain nature of F1 and car development, a dynamic environment only exacerbated by the upcoming regulations reset.

The 65-time grand prix winner stated that "sometimes you luck in" to winning, and that the associated unpredictability is part and parcel of F1 when asked whether he owes it to himself to try and be in the championship's fastest car.

"That is anyway difficult in Formula 1 to always try to be in the fastest car, because then you have to look into the future," he said. "Who would have known that two years ago, this would be the case now?

"That is also something that I don't really spend a lot of focus on. I think the only focus that I have at the moment is just trying to improve the situation.

"We are not where we want to be, I think that's quite clear, but at the same time, next year, a lot can change again. So even if you try to chase the fastest car now, it might not be the fastest car next year.

"That's exactly what F1 is about. Sometimes you luck in, you win three-four-five-six-seven-eight titles, who knows? That's also part of the game."