Max Verstappen insists it was "very clear" to him this year that he was never going to join Mercedes.
The Dutchman's Red Bull future has been uncertain at times this season, particularly against the backdrop of civil war among team bosses.
At the height of that internal conflict, Verstappen's father Jos was leading calls for team principal Christian Horner to be removed from his post.
Mercedes chief Toto Wolff, in need of a replacement for Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton, saw his opportunity and made a very public play for Verstappen's signature.
But the newly-crowned four-time Formula 1 champion has a Red Bull contract until 2028 and never looked likely to move ahead of next season.
And he has now confirmed as much, admitting to the Press Association that has an open mind when it comes to his future but confirming he was never tempted by the Silver Arrows' interest.
He said: "It is always important that you keep your options open, but it was very clear that it was not on the cards.
"I was winning here. And when you are having trouble, to immediately run away does not sit well with me.
It is not fair on anyone. I am loyal to this team for what they have done for me, and that goes both ways."
Verstappen's lengthy contract would ordinarily give his team a strong feeling of security regarding his future.
But there are always performance clauses included in such deals and the 27-year-old may be tempted to take a more serious look around at his options should Red Bull's results decline.
Horner will take some comfort, though, from his star driver's insistence that his ideal view of the rest of his F1 career is to remain with the team he calls his home.
Verstappen added: "It is not like I need to try to win the world championship somewhere else.
"That is not a desire from my side. I am just happy where I am at. And it would also be very beautiful if you just could stay with one team and race there forever.
I would like to believe [that could be with Red Bull]. That is the target.
"Am I bothered about a legacy? No. I do not value my success because of what other people say. If I am happy, that is all that matters.
In sport, you also need a bit of luck to be in the right team for a long time. It does not mean that the guy with the most titles is actually the best."
Verstappen is already eyeing a fifth consecutive title next season and anticipates a strong challenge from Hamilton if Ferrari get their machinery right.
He said of the Brit: "I do not think he will ever lose it.
He has achieved so much. It is a new challenge for him next year. He will be very, very motivated to show he is a seven-time world champion. But it will depend on the material he has got."
