The Italian Grand Prix at the Temple of Speed is always a celebration for true motorsport fans — and even more so for the devoted supporters of the Scuderia Ferrari.

With Milan turning red in the days leading up to the race, and a crowd of 300,000 expected over the weekend, all eyes in the Monza paddock are on Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, both looking for redemption at Ferrari’s home race. But even reigning World Champion Max Verstappen couldn’t hide his thoughts about the allure of the iconic red team.

Speaking to the press, the Dutch Red Bull driver didn’t shy away from a question about a potential future at Ferrari.

“Ferrari in the future? I don’t know. They already have two drivers under contract for next year, so there’s no real discussion to be had. Is there a possibility? In life, there’s always a possibility for every decision. For me, at the moment, it’s not on the horizon. But who knows? I don’t even know how much longer I’ll stay in Formula 1, so there are a lot of uncertainties even for me.”

On Hamilton’s Move to Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton, unlike Verstappen, has already made the long-anticipated switch to Ferrari — though the results so far haven’t lived up to expectations.

When asked about Hamilton’s adjustment struggles, Verstappen responded with empathy and realism:

“I can’t really comment on how he worked at Mercedes, how he feels personally, or what’s happening inside Ferrari. But he’s joined a team with a strong driver like Leclerc, and that’s never easy. Coming in and immediately outperforming a teammate who’s well-integrated, knows the team and speaks the language — it’s not simple. These cars can be complicated. Sometimes, it’s not even clear why you’re fast or why you’re not.

“That said, Ferrari is a massive brand. Every driver sees themselves in red at some point. But if you want to drive for Ferrari, it has to be to win. If I ever go there, it wouldn’t be just to say I drove for Ferrari — it would be because I see a real opportunity to win. Winning with Ferrari is even more special. You have to feel that it’s the right time and the right place.

“And with the new regulations coming next year, the whole grid could get reshuffled.”

On a Tougher Season and McLaren’s Rise

After dominating recent years, Verstappen is experiencing a more challenging season in 2025, with McLaren emerging as a serious title contender.

“Of course, I would have preferred to be in the fight, but that’s part of life. I knew that less competitive seasons would eventually come. You prepare yourself for moments like this. I can’t force things — it’s important to work together and identify the weaknesses.

“Going into every weekend knowing that winning will be difficult is not ideal, but many drivers in Formula 1 live with that reality. Very few win consistently throughout their careers. I’ve won a lot, and that helps put everything in perspective.”