Verstappen extends Red Bull stay until 2030, ending two years of exit speculation

Max Verstappen has signed a new contract extension with Red Bull that will keep him at the Milton Keynes-based team until the end of the 2030 Formula 1 season, the team announced ahead of this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix.

The deal adds two years on top of Verstappen’s existing agreement, which was already set to run until the close of 2028. By the time the new contract expires, the Dutchman will have spent 15 seasons with Red Bull in F1, having joined midway through 2016 following his mid-season promotion from what was then Toro Rosso.

The extension arrives after a prolonged period of uncertainty surrounding Verstappen’s future. His publicly stated dislike for the new generation of cars set to be introduced under F1’s 2026 regulations, combined with his growing interest in other motorsport disciplines, had fuelled persistent questions over whether he would see out even his current deal with the team.

Verstappen said he was motivated by a shared ambition to return Red Bull to the front of the grid. “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,” he said.

The four-time world champion also pointed to his developing relationship with team principal Laurent Mekies as a factor in his decision. “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.”

Mekies was equally emphatic about the significance of retaining Verstappen. “Having Max continue with us and retaining the best driver on the grid is fantastic news for everyone at Red Bull,” he said. “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.”

Red Bull have endured a more difficult 2025 campaign after years of near-total dominance, and the extension signals the team’s intent to rebuild around Verstappen as the sport moves into its next regulatory era.