"You have to take every conversation with another team seriously. But in the end I was closer to quitting Formula 1 than signing a contract with another team," he tells German newspaper Bild.
I seriously considered quitting. But in the end, I love racing. I have nothing more to prove, I am a four-time world champion and achieved everything I ever wanted after that first title.
Verstappen extended his contract with Red Bull in August and it runs through the 2030 season.
He has not won a grand prix this season and is sixth in the overall standings after 14 races.
