Verstappen ends speculation with long-term commitment

Max Verstappen has ended months of speculation about his Formula 1 future by signing a new contract extension with Red Bull that will keep the four-time world champion at the Milton Keynes-based squad until at least the end of 2030.

The announcement was made on Thursday morning at Zandvoort — Verstappen's home track — ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix. The new deal will take the Dutchman to 15 years with Red Bull, three years longer than the current record for the longest stint with a single team, held by Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes.

Verstappen had been under contract until the end of 2028, but it was unclear whether he would fulfil it. The 27-year-old has not enjoyed driving the 2026-spec cars, while Red Bull have dropped to fourth in the pecking order and are yet to taste victory this season. His management team explored options elsewhere, including talks with McLaren, but ultimately his decision was about whether he would stay in F1 at all rather than which team he would race for.

Mekies: 'Phenomenal news'

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies, who took over from Christian Horner in mid-2025, was visibly delighted when he sat down to discuss the deal at Zandvoort.

"It's phenomenal news, I'm not going to lie," Mekies said. "It's phenomenal news for Oracle Red Bull Racing, and if you allow me to say, I think it's phenomenal news for F1, and perhaps for motorsport in general. It's the best driver on the grid deciding to recommit to the team, to go another four-and-a-half years with the team. We take it as an incredible demonstration of trust for our people, for our vision, for our culture."

Mekies revealed that Verstappen had always maintained he wanted to stay with Red Bull throughout their conversations.

"The simple truth is Max has always said that he wanted to stay with Red Bull," Mekies explained. "He has said that from the very first conversations we had about the extension to the very last conversation we had. When we finally agreed on everything, he said, 'I told you I always wanted to stay!'"

Why Verstappen stayed

Despite the frustrations of an uncompetitive 2026 car, Verstappen decided he was not done with F1. He had seen changes made during the season, with further improvements planned, and after resolving to remain in the sport, he knew it would be with Red Bull. The team has become his own — he reiterated on Thursday that he can easily see himself ending his career with the energy drinks brand, and unlike many rivals, he does not feel the need to race for multiple constructors.

Verstappen has seen first-hand how Red Bull respond to challenges, most notably last year when they developed their way out of a tough start to help him overcome a 104-point deficit and fight for the title until the final race. That comeback was overseen by Mekies, and Verstappen spent significant time with both the team principal and Red Bull managing director Oliver Mintzlaff understanding their plans for the future. He liked what he heard.

The way Red Bull delivered one of the best power units on the grid straight out of the box under the new regulations was also a confidence boost. Furthermore, Red Bull will allow Verstappen to continue racing outside of F1 — he has his own endurance racing team — which gives him the best of both worlds.

While financial terms were not disclosed, the deal is believed to include a pay increase and likely escape clauses, though those are merely a safety net.

What it means for Red Bull

For Red Bull, securing Verstappen is a massive statement. Mekies acknowledged that the deal comes with huge responsibility to deliver a competitive car, but said it would also help attract and retain talent across the business.

"The mood will not be high until we are back to winning," Mekies made clear. "Don't expect us to be happy with the progress we have made, because it has not been enough yet to win races. From a bit more than one second off the pace at the beginning of the year, we are probably now in the last three-tenths. The competition is not waiting for us, everybody is developing very, very hard."

Red Bull have not given up on winning races this season, though Mekies admitted they do not yet have the pace to win "in a fair fight." However, with the field tightly bunched, he believes any of the top four teams can win if a rival falters.

Verstappen qualified seventh for Sunday's Dutch Grand Prix, behind both Ferraris and only one tenth ahead of stand-in team-mate Liam Lawson, in what is expected to be the final Dutch Grand Prix on the F1 calendar.