Max Verstappen cracks a joke about his Red Bull seat following the signing of Kimi Raikkonen: "Perhaps I'll step aside."

Four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen humorously suggested he might have to step aside from his Red Bull position to accommodate the team's latest junior addition, Robin Raikkonen.

This week, it was revealed that 11-year-old Robin, the son of 2007 F1 champion Kimi Raikkonen, has officially joined the Red Bull Junior Team. The young Finnish racer is currently making his mark in the European karting scene.

In an interview with Motorsport.com and other outlets prior to this weekend's first-ever Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, Verstappen acknowledged he had already reached out to the Raikkonen family to congratulate them on the announcement, having known about the agreement ahead of its public disclosure.

"Yeah, I met them before the race on Sunday [the Italian Grand Prix]. They were sitting upstairs, so I had a brief conversation with Kimi and Robin," Verstappen recounted. "It was nice. When they were around I had a little chat and I was aware that he was already signed. It's nice to see."

Robin Raikkonen

Red Bull's junior program has a rich history of nurturing talented drivers who reach F1. Notable graduates from the Red Bull junior roster include Verstappen, Sebastian Vettel, Carlos Sainz, Daniel Ricciardo, Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly, and Liam Lawson.

When reminded that he might not be in F1 by the time Robin is ready to vie for a seat, the Dutch driver quipped: "Yeah, who knows? Maybe, maybe not. I suppose eventually they'll need a spot for him in the team. So, yeah, perhaps I'll step aside."

Verstappen secured a contract extension at the end of August, ensuring his stay with the Milton Keynes team until the conclusion of 2030, effectively quelling speculation regarding a possible retirement or a transfer to either Mercedes or McLaren.

Share Or Save This Story