Max Verstappen has delivered a blunt warning to any Formula 1 team boss thinking of picking up the phone to lure him away from Red Bull.
Between the Miami and Imola races, the four-time world champion made headlines by storming around the infamous Nürburgring Nordschleife in a Ferrari GT3 car — at record-breaking speed.
"If I was his team boss, I would ask him if he was out of his mind," said former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher on Sky Deutschland.
But at Red Bull, Christian Horner and Helmut Marko had no objections. In fact, Marko explained it simply: the team is more "liberal" than most when it comes to how their drivers spend their free time.
Compare that to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who is known for banning his drivers from risky extracurriculars.
Asked at Imola by De Telegraaf about a recent phone call with Wolff, Verstappen revealed, "I think it was our first real talk since 2021.
"We have corrected a few things about that year. We also talked about the future perspective," he added. "But for me it is not just about Formula 1.
"Everyone always thinks that decisions about my future are purely based on what is happening here in this world, but I am still busy with many more things. That is not something that every team can offer."
Red Bull, for example, has scrapped its previous ban on winter skiing for Verstappen — and gave the green light for the GT3 Nürburgring run.
"That's right," Verstappen smiled. "And if - if - I ever move somewhere else, everything will remain the same in my life. I'm not going to limit myself with these things.
"If someone doesn't like my hobbies, that's their right. But then I won't even answer the phone."
The 27-year-old insists he will remain in F1 "at least until 2028", but is not committing beyond that.
"It is clear that I do not like everything in this environment, but I do like working with the people around me and the racing itself.
"Although a fourth place like in Miami is not what I do it for. But it's still better than finishing last."
Currently, McLaren appears to have the most competitive car on the grid, but both drivers — Norris and Piastri — are locked into long-term deals.
Interestingly, however, McLaren CEO Zak Brown said he'd theoretically be happy to give Verstappen the same freedoms he's used to at Red Bull.
"We generally like to see our drivers in race cars — McLarens, of course," Brown told Bild newspaper.
"But as long as their focus is on Formula 1 and they're just having fun for a day, it's all perfectly fine."
In Miami, Norris took a jab at Verstappen, accusing him of being willing to crash whenever someone attempts a pass.
"That doesn't bother me at all," Verstappen shrugged. "When I leave the circuit, I think about my GT3 project and what I do with my sim racing team Redline.
"I find them much more fun and interesting than worrying about what someone thinks or says about me."
