MAX VERSTAPPEN could have breached the terms of his Red Bull contract – by going skiing.
The F1 world champion spent time on the slopes between the Australian GP, where he was forced to retire with a brake problem, and this week’s Japanese GP.
The three-time world champion was forced to end his race early in Melbourne due to a brake failure, allowing Carlos Sainz – who had already passed him on track – to claim the eventual race win.
With no race last weekend, Verstappen has had time to relax – but may have landed himself in hot water after his winter sports trip.
The 26-year-old has a dangerous sports clause inserted in his £43m a year deal at Red Bull to prevent him from the risk of getting injured.
And that is understood to include skiing – although that did not stop him according to Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko.
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Speaking about Verstappen’s DNF in Melbourne, Marko landed the F1 star in it by telling Austrian media: “Unfortunately, such a defect happens sometimes.
“In the meantime, Max was skiing in Japan in the most wonderful, best deep snow in the world.”
When quizzed if Verstappen should indeed be skiing in the first place, Marko added: “I’ve already told you too much…”.
In the past Verstappen has explained how he was prevented from doing dangerous sports by having a clause in his contract with the F1 team.
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He said: “There is a risk in everything. I haven’t skied in five years because of the risk of breaking or twisting something with all the consequences that entails.
“And of course also in the knowledge that there are still years to come in which I have a great chance of becoming champion again and winning races.
“If you think about that, you automatically take fewer risks.”
Verstappen, who has been linked with a move from Red Bull following a public spat between his boss Christian Horner and his father Jos Verstappen.
However, ahead of the Japanese GP, Verstappen said: “It all depends on if I want to also drive next year or not.
I’ve already told you too much…
Helmut Marko
“But from my side, no, I’m very happy where I’m at. And, yeah, we want to keep it that way.”
During the winter off-season Mercedes’ George Russell was seen at ski slopes in Austria alongside team principal Toto Wolff, while Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso also enjoyed some of his own skiing fun.
Russell himself also admitted some drivers break a strict no-drinking rule on F1 weekends, but did not name any culprits.
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Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
