Max Verstappen has signed a new four-year contract at Red Bull until the end of the 2030 F1 season.
Verstappen had been heavily linked with a move to McLaren or Mercedes amidst a difficult start to the new regulations this season with Red Bull, but has now decided to commit his future to the Austrian constructor after extensive discussions.
The 28-year-old driver, who has already won four world titles and claimed 84 victories in total across sprint and Grand Prix formats, is happy to extend his stay and has iterated confidence in the team’s potential to fight their way back to winning ways under Team Principal – Laurent Mekies.
“I am really pleased with the contract extension. We have the best people and I’m excited to keep working together with everyone to get back to the top again. This remains the ultimate goal that all of us have been working towards and will continue to pursue. I want to thank Red Bull, Laurent and everyone at Oracle Red Bull Racing for the trust they put in me.
“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.
“Getting to work with Laurent now for over a year has also been great, I see a clear vision he has for the Team. Everyone 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.”
Verstappen is preparing for his final home race at the Dutch GP which is leaving the F1 calendar after this weekend, so felt that the timing of his contract renewal is “a great moment”, as he vowed to give Zandvoort “a special send-off for the final race”
Mekies added: “Having Max continue with us and retaining the best driver on the grid is fantastic news for everyone at Red Bull, Oracle Red Bull Racing, as well as F1 and motorsport as a whole.
“Very few partnerships in sport achieve what Max and this Team have. Since the very beginning, Max has embodied everything that makes Oracle Red Bull Racing special: uncompromising competitiveness, relentless determination and the courage to challenge convention.
“His impact on our Team and on Red Bull’s motorsport story has been transformational, and he has been fundamental to everything we have accomplished 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 One’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. Together, we continue to raise the bar with the same determination that brought us to the top of the sport and an even greater faith in what we can achieve.
Much will evolve as we move forward, but our ambition remains unchanged – united by one direction, one vision, one Team.”
Leave a Reply