Max Verstappen insists his warning to Red Bull over his F1 future early in the 2024 season "wasn't a bluff" after it looked set to suspend close ally Helmut Marko.
It proved an effective strategy for the Dutchman, with the 81-year-old remaining in his role, despite it remaining unknown whether there is truth to the rumour his contract includes a Marko-centric break clause.
Whilst the 27-year-old went on to claim his fourth consecutive F1 drivers' title, the start of the season was a tumultuous affair for Red Bull.
Amid in-fighting and an internal power struggle, the team looked fractured at its core, with Marko just one of the names close to the exit, with reports he would be shown to door prior to the second round of the season, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
In direct juxtaposition to the supposed turmoil behind the scenes, the RB20 looked as dominant on track as its predecessor, which won 19 of 22 rounds the year prior.
"Once I'm in the car, I'm only concerned with performance, luckily," Verstappen told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf when looking back on the season.
Although the RB20 would ultimately falter, leaving Red Bull to limp home third in the constructors' standings, its relationship with Verstappen now appears stronger than ever, having survived the turbulent episode.
The wounds of the threat to suspend Marko have since healed, but the 63-time grand prix winner maintains backing the Austrian was the right thing to do, despite it feeding into the looming speculation he may still seek to leave Red Bull for pastures new, with Mercedes and Aston Martin touted as likely landing spots.
"I think I did state clearly what I thought about it," Verstappen reflected. "I also think it was important that I said that at the time.
"And I also meant it. It wasn't a bluff. And they know that within the team as well.
"Whether at that stage I had any doubts about my future at Red Bull? Well, the feeling was not quite 100 percent. There was a lot going on.
"But on the other hand, I also don't think that if something goes wrong, you can immediately just say: I'm leaving. That's not the way I am."
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