Verstappen issues 'focus on yourself' demand to F1 rivals

Max Verstappen has called for Red Bull's F1 rivals to "focus on themselves", with the Milton Keynes squad often the subject of rumour and gossip in the F1 paddock.

A particularly vocal critic of the reigning constructors' champions has been McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown, who has publicly modelled his team as almost an antithesis of Red Bull.

He has been outspoken on a number of issues pertaining to the Christian Horner-led team over the course of the 2024 season, calling out what he perceives to be a lack of integrity and a "pretty toxic" environment, amongst other things.

When the opportunity has arisen, the 52-year-old has gone for the jugular, goading Red Bull on a range of topics, from staff applying for roles at McLaren to the overall stability of the team.

However, Verstappen does not feel it is just Brown who needs to pay less attention to other teams and drivers, saying that rule applies to all.

"People that say all sorts of stuff should just focus on their own team," Verstappen told Motorsport.com when discussing some of the American's remarks.

"That's nothing specifically against Zak Brown, by the way, it applies to everyone. People just need to focus on themselves, and that's what I'm doing as well."

'I'm not going to waste energy on that'

Whilst much of the criticism and speculation has been centred on issues off-track, one of the key developments - and narratives - over the season has been Red Bull's fall in relative pace, particularly to McLaren.

Having started 2024 in the same rich vein of form it ended last year, another dominant romp to both championships was predicted.

However, that has not happened. Verstappen has clung onto the lead in the fight for the drivers' title, leading Lando Norris by 52 points with six rounds remaining, but in the constructors' standings Red Bull has been knocked off its perch. McLaren is 41 points clear and looks set to claim its first crown since 1998.

Whether true or not, many have attributed some of Red Bull's struggles to the FIA essentially banning asymmetric braking over the summer.

In the process of closing a loophole in the regulations for 2026, the governing body also retroactively applied the provision to the current rules. Red Bull - and Verstappen - has always denied the RB20 was fitted with any such system.

Despite the noise that issue generated, the Dutchman insists he does not place much weight or value in rumour and hearsay, whilst maintaining others can "think what they want" about such matters.

"People always come up with different stuff," the 27-year-old mused on the topic. "I find it really bizarre how they come up with some of these things, but it is what it is. It's part of the game, but I usually just let it go.

"I've been in F1 for 10 years now and I'm not wasting time on all those stories. I mean, I barely read anything about F1 anyway.

"Of course, sometimes I see something or someone else tells me: "Did you see what this and that person said?' But I always say people can think what they want, I'm not going to waste my energy on that. So, I don't really care about what other people say."