Verstappen ends F1 exit speculation, commit to Red Bull until 2030
Four-time Formula One world champion Max Verstappen has ended speculation over his future by signing a contract extension with Red Bull that will keep him with the team until the end of 2030.
Red Bull announced the deal on Thursday, August 19, 2026, confirming that the 28-year-old Dutchman will remain at the team for another four seasons beyond his previous contract, which was due to expire at the end of 2028.
The announcement comes ahead of Verstappen’s home race at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort, where thousands of his orange-clad supporters are expected to celebrate the continuation of his partnership with the team.
Verstappen had been linked with possible moves to Mercedes and McLaren, while his future in Formula One had also been questioned after he expressed frustration with the sport’s new regulations introduced this season.
The new rules have coincided with a difficult campaign for Red Bull, with Mercedes emerging as the leading team.
Verstappen currently sits sixth in the drivers’ championship, 110 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli, despite securing two second-place finishes.
The Dutchman has criticised the increased emphasis on energy management under the new regulations, saying they have affected his enjoyment of racing.
However, he has maintained his belief that Red Bull can recover its competitiveness.
“I’m excited to keep working together with everyone to get back to the top again,” Verstappen said. He described Red Bull as a “second family” and reflected on the success they have achieved together since he joined the team in 2016.
Verstappen was promoted from Red Bull’s junior team, Toro Rosso, midway through the 2016 season and won his first race for the senior outfit in Spain that year.
He has since established himself as one of Formula One’s dominant drivers, securing four world championships.
His previous contract was reportedly understood to contain performance-related exit clauses that could have allowed him to leave before its expiry.
Verstappen also voiced confidence in Red Bull’s leadership under team principal Laurent Mekies, who succeeded long-serving boss Christian Horner last year.
The new agreement commits Verstappen to Red Bull through the end of the decade and signals the team’s determination to rebuild around its star driver.
