Verstappen signs Red Bull extension until 2030, ending months of Mercedes and McLaren speculation

Max Verstappen has signed a two-year contract extension with Red Bull, tying the four-time world champion to the Milton Keynes outfit until the end of 2030. The announcement was made ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix and draws a firm line under months of speculation linking Verstappen to both Mercedes and McLaren.

Red Bull’s turbulent period — marked by internal personnel changes and a dip in on-track competitiveness — had fuelled persistent rumours that Verstappen might seek a move elsewhere. Instead, he has doubled down on his commitment to the team that delivered all four of his world titles.

The news landed in quick succession with Williams confirming contract extensions for both Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, prompting Formula 1 fans to declare the 2026 silly season effectively dead on arrival. “Pack it up boys. And here ends our thirst for a fun silly season,” one fan wrote on Reddit. “The Williams announcements are about the most interesting thing so far sadly. See ya in 2027!”

Others were struck by the duration of the deal. “This Max announcement is pretty interesting, and the contract length is mildly shocking tbh,” one comment read. “There will always be exit clauses, and Max can just outright retire, but securing four more years still indicates he is here in F1 for the foreseeable future.”

The loyalty angle also drew comparisons to other long-serving driver-team partnerships. “Honestly, I can’t even picture Max, Lando and Leclerc in another team at this point,” another fan wrote, referencing Lando Norris’s continued presence at McLaren and Charles Leclerc’s at Ferrari.

Not everyone was entirely serious. “The man saw there was no way into Williams anymore and rushed to sign an extension,” one fan joked, while another simply posted: “RIP silly season.”

On the championship front, Verstappen currently sits sixth in the drivers’ standings with 109 points, trailing championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 110 points.