Max Verstappen: Red Bull driver signs new contract extension until 2030 Formula 1 season ahead of Dutch Grand Prix

· 9 min read

Max Verstappen has signed a new long-term Red Bull contract until 2030 to end speculation over his future.

Verstappen's previous deal was due to expire at the end of 2028 and it is understood his management held talks with McLaren earlier this year over a switch for 2027.

The new contract will see him stay at Red Bull until at least the end of 2030 when Verstappen will be 33 years old.

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The news almost certainly means there will be no driver changes at Formula 1's current top four teams - Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull - for 2027.

"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," said Verstappen, who is currently sixth in the Drivers' Championship and 110 points behind Kimi Antonelli ahead of this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix.

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The Sky Sports F1 team discuss the reasons behind Max Verstappen signing a new contract at Red Bull until 2030.

"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.

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Why has Verstappen extended now?

Sky Sports F1's Karun Chandhok:

"I am a little bit surprised at the length, I am not surprised he is committed to them.

"I thought it would be until the end of 2028. The fact he has gone for four shows he believes in the long-term feasibility of the project.

"This year, they have had probably the fourth-fastest car at a lot of races, he sits sixth in the Drivers' Championship. That is not where Max wants to be but clearly they have convinced him that the long-term potential is better than this year."

"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 photographed as his new deal was announced

Image: Verstappen photographed as his new deal was announced

Formula 1 2027 field

Team Driver Driver
Mercedes Kimi Antonelli George Russell
Ferrari Lewis Hamilton Charles Leclerc
McLaren Lando Norris Oscar Piastri
Red Bull Max Verstappen ???
Racing Bulls ??? ???
Alpine Pierre Gasly ???
Haas ??? ???
Audi ??? ???
Williams Carlos Sainz Alex Albon
Aston Martin ??? ???
Cadillac Sergio Perez Valtteri Bottas

Why has there been so much speculation about Verstappen's future?

Verstappen is widely regarded as the best driver in Formula 1 after winning four consecutive drivers' titles from 2021 to 2024 and coming within two points of a remarkable fifth championship in 2025 in inferior machinery compared to the two McLarens.

He expressed dissatisfaction at the new 2026 power unit regulations earlier this season, revealing in March that he was contemplating his future in the sport.

F1 has since tweaked the power unit rules, and further changes will be introduced to reduce the amount of electrical output for 2027 and beyond, and criticism over the yoyo style of racing has lessened as the season has gone on.

Red Bull also started the season poorly but have developed their way towards the front and appear to be getting on top of their reliability issues.

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Verstappen initially had a troublesome start to the 2026 F1 season

However, Verstappen had an exit clause in his contract that would allow him to join another team in 2027 as he was outside the top two positions in the Drivers' Championship at the start of this season's summer break earlier this month.

Despite having the possibility to leave, Verstappen has committed his future to Red Bull for another four and a half seasons.

"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," said Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies.

"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 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. 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."

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Max Verstappen explains why he has signed a new contract with Red Bull until 2030

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Verstappen won the 2023 Canadian Grand Prix as Red Bull secured their 100th victory in Formula 1

Why has Verstappen signed a new contract now?

It is understood Verstappen had until October to tell Red Bull if he would remain at the team for next year but talks went well over the summer and the Dutchman has been convinced that he can win more races, and titles, at the Milton Keynes-based team.

Red Bull have lost several key personnel in recent years including Christian Horner and Helmut Marko, while Verstappen's engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will join McLaren in 2028.

But, Verstappen, who joined Red Bull in 2016, has seen enough progress this season and been shown Red Bull can challenge at the front in the future.

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With the last Formula 1 race coming up at Zandvoort, look back at some of the most dramatic moments throughout the years at the Dutch Grand Prix

Sky Sports F1's Karun Chandhok said: "Just look at the last two Grands Prix, he has had two podiums. Straight away the team has momentum.

"That is what it was always going to take for Max to stay where he is. He wanted to see improvements.

"Making their own engine at Red Bull is incredible stuff where you think where they have come from.

"He wanted to see improvement on the power unit side of things, he wanted to see improvements from the team, and I feel like from where they started the season to where they are now - if you look at that trajectory, that is probably what he is buying into."

What now for the driver market?

Verstappen's renewal announcement came hot on the heels of Williams' extending the deals of Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, meaning over half the current grid now have deals in place for 2027.

"We always like a good story in F1, a bit of upset, and it looked at some point it was going to be a great 'silly season' and Max was going to be the instigator of that," added Chandhok.

"Talks of him to McLaren, kicking Piastri out, then maybe talks of Mercedes with either Russell or Antonelli looking vulnerable there. It would have created a massive story, but it runs out it is not so much of a 'silly season' after all.

"Back to the drawing board."

Your views on Verstappen's new deal

Alistairfeldmanis: Interesting that Max has extended his contract with Red Bull after all the negativity and possible team changes, something must have come together to get him to agree to the contract.

Troy Denny: What could Red Bull have promised for Max to extend right NOW? Big-name signings? More influence at the team? Also, what if they are still in the same kind of position on the grid this time next year? Will all the noise just start again, irrespective of extension?

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Verstappen shocked Lewis Hamilton with a stunning overtake at the Hungarian Grand Prix

Ryan Walker: Red Bull is the perfect place to be, they allow him to compete in other sports and do very little media. Yet he gives everything on race weekends. It's a match made in heaven.

Oscar E: The biggest shock for me is that a driver who once said he has no interest in sticking around as long as some of his peers is now committed to F1 going into his mid thirties. Wonder if we'll still see him at 41? And will Fernando Alonso STILL be there?

The Formula 1 season resumes after the summer break with a Sprint weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix from Friday, with every session live on Sky Sports. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime