SportsNews

Verstappen on F1 future: Mercedes talk constructive, but I like where I am

Published

12 months ago

December 19, 2024

Ekwutos Blog

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20 © Autosport.com

Max Verstappen sees no reason to change Formula 1 teams before his current Red Bull deal is up in 2028.

Verstappen and Red Bull went through a turbulent first half of the season both on and off the track, marked by power plays behind the scene behind team boss Christian Horner and advisor Helmut Marko, who enjoys the support of Verstappen’s entourage.

Horner survived calls from Verstappen’s father Jos to quit the team, leading to a truce towards the end of the year as Red Bull focused its efforts on improving its on-track performances, eventually resulting in Verstappen’s fourth drivers’ title.

While some key members have since decided to leave the squad, including designer Adrian Neweyand sporting director Jonathan Wheatley,Verstappen himself says that despite talks with Mercedes chief Toto Wolff he now sees no reason to get out of his current Red Bull deal.

“If you look at Formula 1, it doesn’t happen very often that someone gets out of their contract. It’s not like in football, where you sign for five years and leave a year later. And that’s not really the intention,” Verstappen told Dutch broadcaster Viaplay.

“You never know what can happen next year or in two years, but you can’t control that either, so I don’t really think about it that much. Look, I’m very happy with where I am. We’ve won another championship. Of course, improvements need to be made with the car, but I think that’s very logical. So, I feel good with the team, I can be myself.

“Everyone is also working flat out to always give me the best material. In that respect, I have nothing to complain about.”

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

When asked if Wolff’s pitch simply wasn’t interesting enough to convince him, he said: “The big teams are always interesting, but on the other hand, I’m also in a very big team. I’ve achieved a lot of success with them. It also just feels like a second family.

“Look, of course, we always talk to each other. And I don’t lie about the fact that we’ve sat together. We had very constructive conversations, I think everyone has always been very honest and open with each other.

“But on the other hand, I am also very loyal to my own team, and I just feel at home there. So, then there is actually not much to achieve at the moment. I am still very young, so a lot can still happen in the future.”

Verstappen has frequently hinted that he will not hang around in F1 forever, having ambitions to race at the Le Mans 24 Hours and in other sportscar events, possibly even with his own GT3 team the Dutchman is setting up. To that end, partnering with a manufacturer like Mercedes would make sense, but Verstappen indicated he is in no rush.

“For me, it is not just Formula 1,” he said. “After that, I also want to do a lot of things and I am also thinking about that. Who are the right partners for that? So yes, those are things that I think about, but I do not necessarily have to make a decision about that now.

“I have multiple goals after Formula 1 – endurance, my own team, there are a lot of things involved. And of course, there has to be a programme in the end. And who are you going to do that with? Those are also conversations that I have.

“A lot of teams [could help with that]; Mercedes, Ferrari, Aston Martin, it doesn’t even have to do with Formula 1 itself. Red Bull, of course, they also do a lot outside of Formula 1. So, I’m keeping all options open there and, in the end, I’ll choose what I think is best.”

SportsNews

EPL: Full list of players leaving for 2025 AFCON

Published

1 day ago

December 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

At least 25 players in the Premier League are set to travel for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The tournament is scheduled to take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

Nigeria, Ivory Coast, DR Congo lead the way in terms of players based in the English topflight, with four selected from each club for the AFCON.

FIFA has directed clubs to release the eligible players from Monday, December 15.

Full list of players confirmed

Sunderland (5):
Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco), Reinildo (Mozambique), Bertrand Traoré (Burkina Faso), Arthur Masuaku (DR Congo), Noah Sadiki (DR Congo).

Manchester United (3):
Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco).

Fulham (3):
Alex Iwobi (Nigeria), Calvin Bassey (Nigeria), Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria).

Burnley (3):
Axel Tuanzebe (DR Congo), Lyle Foster (South Africa), Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia).

Nottingham Forest (2):
Ibrahim Sangaré (Ivory Coast), Willy Boly (Ivory Coast).

Brentford (2):
Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso), Frank Onyeka (Nigeria).

Manchester City (1):
Omar Marmoush (Egypt),

West Ham United (1):
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR Congo)

Wolves (2):
Tawanda Chirewa (Zimbabwe), Emmanuel Agbadou (Ivory Coast).

Brighton & Hove Albion (1):
Carlos Baleba (Cameroon).

Crystal Palace (2):
Ismaïla Sarr (Senegal), Cheick Doucouré (Mali)

Liverpool (1):
Mohammed Salah (Egypt)

SportsNews

NNL bars fans from Ranchers Bees vs Adamawa United

Published

1 day ago

December 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The Nigeria National League, NNL, has announced that matchday six fixture between Ranchers Bees and Adamawa United will be played behind closed doors.

The announcement was made in a statement by the league body.

Only the State Football Association representatives, staff of both teams, kit managers and medical personnel will be allowed into the stadium.

Others are the match officials, security personnel and camera men.

The reason for the decision to play the game without club supporters wasn’t stated by the league body.

The encounter will take place at the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna on Saturday (today).

SportsNews

Nigeria vs Egypt Friendly Gets New Date

Published

6 days ago

December 8, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Nigeria’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have taken a fresh hit, with Egypt confirming that the highly anticipated friendly between both nations has been shifted from 14 to 16 December.

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced the adjustment late Friday, noting that FIFA’s updated international release directive, which allows clubs keep African players until 15 December, made the original date unworkable.

EFA Vice President Khaled El-Darandaly explained that the new rule left both Egypt and Nigeria without full squads for the initial date.

Key Pharaohs players, including Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, are now expected to arrive only after the new release window.

Egypt had already named its 28-man provisional squad and opened camp in Cairo, with head coach Hossam Hassan accelerating final preparations for a Group B campaign that includes South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe.

Nigeria’s disruption is more extensive. The Super Eagles were originally scheduled to open camp on 10 December and progress through a streamlined friendly schedule before departing for Morocco. That entire framework has now been dismantled.

Under the revised timeline, camp will open on 14 December, leaving Eric Chelle with barely a week to prepare before AFCON kicks off.

The venue for the friendly is also now uncertain, with Cairo no longer feasible and both federations considering shifting the match to Morocco.

Nigeria’s build-up has been further destabilised by injuries to Ola Aina, Taiwo Awoniyi, Benjamin Fredrick and Felix Agu.

The shock retirement of captain William Troost-Ekong, winner of the 2023 AFCON Player of the Tournament award, creates an additional leadership vacuum in defence.

Chelle, who released a 55-man provisional list, must now trim his squad to 28 within a compressed window. Nigeria will compete in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania as they chase a fourth continental title.