Christian Horner has admitted star driver Max Verstappen is uncomfortable in the spotlight that comes with his Formula 1 success. And there has been plenty of it. The Dutchman is still only 27 despite having been in the sport for a decade and has dominated the drivers' championship over the last four years, winning every single title since 2021. He is delighted with his success in the sport, but not entirely so pleased with some of the other elements that come with the fame. And his boss Horner recognises that, even though he will surely be frustrated if it does lead to Red Bull losing their star man early.

"He is not a guy that fame sits comfortably with. He doesn’t court adulation," Horner said of Verstappen. "He just loves driving fast cars and he’s a unique guy. He deserves all the plaudits that his driving has produced.". Red Bull handed Verstappen a huge new deal following his first title success. Announced in early 2022, he put pen to paper on a mega-money contract which sees him rival Lewis Hamilton for the title of the highest paid F1 star.

That deal runs until the end of the 2028 season, when Verstappen will be 31. Most drivers in the prime of their career would not even by giving a thought to retirement at that age, but the Dutchman has already made it clear that he won't be staying in F1 much beyond that age, if he even signs another contract at all. He has already been in the sport for 10 years having been promoted as a fresh-faced 17-year-old who just wanted to drive as fast as he could. That element of his personality remains, but Horner believes his star man has become even stronger thanks to the wisdom he has added to his speed over the years.

The Red Bull chief added: "He would love to win every race but on the days he can't win, he's taking the maximum points. He's looking at the bigger picture now, and that just comes with experience. Max has got huge maturity but [the fourth title] means so much to him. It really means a huge amount to him.". Verstappen has been the subject of interest from other teams including Mercedes and Aston Martin. The latter was recently reported to have been preparing a £1billion contract offer in a desperate attempt to persuade the four-time champion to quit Red Bull, but team adviser Helmut Marko remains confident that they won't lose their star man.

The Austrian said: ""[Interest from Mercedes and Aston Martin] is all well and good, but Max has a contract with us until the end of 2028. Especially because I know how loyal and grateful he is to Red Bull. That is why he will also be a Red Bull driver in 2026, and as a five-time world champion.". Catch all the action from Formula One on Sky Sports and get exclusive access to races, qualifying and much more for every Grand Prix. From Max Verstappen to Lewis Hamilton, you won't miss a lap on Sky Sports.