Verstappen reveals Red Bull debut agreement

Max Verstappen has revealed that he had an agreement in place to join Red Bull in 2017 - before he was promoted in the early stages of the 2016 season. 

The reigning F1 champion was promoted from the sister team (then known as Toro Rosso) to Red Bull following the Russian Grand Prix. 

Verstappen and Daniil Kvyat swapped seats after the Russian driver collided with Sebastian Vettel twice during his home race at the Sochi Autodrom, resulting in a demotion to Toro Rosso. 

For Verstappen, his Red Bull debut came earlier than expected, although he was already aware it would follow soon.

"That promotion to the main team was already fixed for the year after - 2017," revealed Verstappen in the Viaplay documentary '10 years of Max Verstappen'. 

"The fact that came in 2016 was only a good thing."

Verstappen - People had doubts

Verstappen's mid-season promotion was decided quickly after the Russian GP, with the Dutchman informed he had to travel to Austria to meet advisor Helmut Marko.

"It was also a kind of relief when they told me the day after the race in Sochi that I first had to go to Graz, to Helmut Marko, and then on to the factory in England," said Verstappen.

Famously, Verstappen won on his Red Bull debut at the Spanish GP after Mercedes' pair Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg took each other out on the opening lap. 

It opened the door for the three-time champion to do something remarkable and silence any lingering doubters. 

"That debut came out very well because there were still some people with doubts," he explained. 

"But then you win that race, although there was some luck in that as well. Still, it's nice to get in. 

"The weekend after that didn't go very well, of course, [referring to him crashing out in Monaco], but if you won the race before that, that is something that people remember."