Four-time world champion, Max Verstappen, has signed a new contract with Red Bull that will keep him at the Formula 1 team until the end of 2030.
The new deal is expected to end speculation over the Dutchman’s future after he was linked with possible moves to Mercedes and McLaren.
Verstappen, 28, was previously contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2028, but clauses in his agreement could have allowed him to leave at the end of the current season.
“We have the best people and I’m excited to keep working together with everyone to get back to the top again,” Verstappen said.
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“This remains the ultimate goal that all of us have been working towards and will continue to pursue.
“I have always said it: the team is like a second family for me and I feel very at home.
“I came to the team hoping to be able to win races. What we went on to achieve together has been simply lovely and we have shared many incredible moments and won four World Championships.
“To continue this journey with the same team that I have been with my whole career is really special and something I have always wanted to do.”
Red Bull’s season
Verstappen’s decision comes despite Red Bull’s difficult start to the new era of car and engine regulations introduced this season.
His best results so far have been second-place finishes at the Austrian and Hungarian Grands Prix. He came within two points of beating McLaren’s Lando Norris to last season’s world title after recovering from a deficit of more than 100 points during the second half of the campaign.
Red Bull’s lack of competitiveness has led Verstappen to voice his frustration on several occasions, but he has opted to remain with the team.
The decision also comes despite his trusted race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, signing to join McLaren by 2028.
Verstappen also praised Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies, who took over last July following the departure of Christian Horner.
“Getting to work with Laurent now for over a year has also been great, I see a clear vision he has for the team,” Verstappen said.
“Everyone [at Red Bull’s base] in Milton Keynes believes in what we are building and I am looking forward to the next chapter, fighting for more victories and competing for championships as we continue to shape the future of this team.”
Mekies welcomes Verstappen extension
Mekies welcomed the decision to retain the four-time world champion, describing Verstappen as the “best driver on the grid”.
“Having Max continue with us and retaining the best driver on the grid is fantastic news,” Mekies said.
“Very few partnerships in sport achieve what Max and this team have. Since the very beginning, Max has embodied everything that makes Red Bull Racing special: uncompromising competitiveness, relentless determination and the courage to challenge convention.
“His impact on our team and Red Bull’s motorsport story has been transformational and he has been fundamental to everything we have achieved together.
“The decision to continue our journey together is rooted in the trust Max and the team have built over many years, as well as Max’s confidence in our people, our culture and our vision for the future.
“Forged through championship-winning success, intense battles and challenging moments alike, this relationship has only grown stronger, making it one of Formula 1’s greatest success stories. But we are not done yet. There are more races to win, more milestones to achieve and more history to write.”
Although the contract runs until the end of 2030, there are mechanisms that could allow Verstappen to leave if the team’s performance does not meet expectations. The specific details have not been disclosed.
Verstappen began his F1 career with Red Bull’s junior team, then known as Toro Rosso, in 2015. He was promoted to the senior team after four races of the 2016 season and won his first race on his debut for Red Bull.
He has since won 71 Grands Prix and four world titles, with his race victories ranking third on the all-time list behind Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher.
