Verstappen Ignites Tifosi at Monza: 'No Reason to Learn Italian... Yet'

Max Verstappen's recent comments about a potential move to Ferrari have significantly captured attention, especially during the crucial Monza weekend for Italian fans.

Why it matters

Verstappen's remarks, hinting at a future with the Maranello team if a genuine winning opportunity arises, have fueled the passionate 'tifosi' and added another layer of intrigue to the driver market. This speculation follows high-profile moves by drivers like Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari.

The big picture

On the eve of the Monza weekend, the three-time world champion indicated his interest in Ferrari, but stressed that his primary motivation would be the chance to win championships, not merely to drive for the iconic brand.

His conditions for Ferrari

• "Ferrari is a massive brand, and of course all the drivers, they see and they picture themselves of, ‘I would like to drive for Ferrari,’ but I think that's also where the mistake comes, just to drive for Ferrari."
• "If you want to drive for Ferrari, you want to win. So if I would ever want to go there, I don't go there just to drive for Ferrari, I go there because I see the opportunity to win. And if you win with Ferrari, that's even better."

Playful remarks at Monza

During a fan session at Monza, Verstappen responded to a question about learning Italian with a sarcastic tone, stating: "I don’t have any reason yet to actually learn Italian… I don’t know. Maybe."

He later followed up on his Ferrari comments:

• "I don't know. The thing was also, they have two drivers contracted for next year anyway, right? So, then there is no discussion anyway."
• "At the moment that [a Ferrari drive] was not on the horizon. But you know, I don't even know how long I'm driving in Formula 1."

What's next

While Verstappen remains under contract with Red Bull until 2028, his openness to a future with Ferrari, albeit under specific conditions, ensures that the 'tifosi' will continue to dream. The dynamic F1 driver market will certainly keep this conversation alive.