By: Max Verstappen has decided his future. After months of rumours and speculation, the Dutchman has finally put all doubts to rest: the four-time world champion will continue to race in Red Bull colours until at least 2030.
The announcement came just minutes ago directly from the Austrian team, bringing an end to the speculation that had linked Verstappen with other teams in recent weeks.
The team’s press release states: "Oracle Red Bull Racing is immensely proud to confirm that Max Verstappen will remain with the team until the end of the 2030 Formula 1 season, extending one of the most successful and significant partnerships in F1 history."
"Since joining the Red Bull Junior Programme in 2014 and making his debut with the team in 2016, winning on his very first Grand Prix, Max has become far more than simply a driver. He is a central figure in the history, identity and success of Oracle Red Bull Racing."
"Together, Max and the Team have secured four Drivers’ World Championships, two Constructors’ World Championships and 71 Grand Prix victories, delivering some of the most memorable moments of the modern F1 era. As they prepare to take on seasons 12 to 15 together, this commitment goes far beyond merely continuing an already extraordinary alliance. It is a powerful statement of mutual trust and ambition – and a shared decision to shape the future together."
Following the contract extension announcement, Laurent Mekies, Red Bull team principal, said: "The fact that Max is staying with us and that we can continue to have the best driver on the grid is fantastic news for all of us at Red Bull, at Oracle Red Bull Racing, as well as for F1 and the wider motorsport world."
"Very few partnerships in sport achieve the results that Max and this team have achieved. From the outset, 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 history in motorsport has been revolutionary, and he has been instrumental in everything we have achieved 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 in the confidence Max has in our people, our culture and our vision for the future. Forged through the success that brought us championship victories, the intense battles and the difficult moments, this relationship has only grown stronger, becoming one of Formula 1’s greatest success stories."
"But it is not over yet. There are more races to win, more milestones to reach and more history to write. Together, we continue to raise the bar with the same determination that took us to the top of this sport, and with even greater confidence in what we can achieve. Many things will change as we move forward, but our ambition remains unchanged: united by one direction, one vision, one Team."
Max Verstappen added: "I am really happy about the contract extension. We have the best people, and I cannot wait to keep working with everyone to get back to the top again. That remains the ultimate goal that we have all worked towards and will continue to pursue. I want to thank Red Bull, Laurent and everyone at Oracle Red Bull Racing for the faith they have placed in me."
"I have always said that the Team is like a second family to me and I truly feel at home. I joined the Team hoping that I could win races. What we have managed to achieve together has been simply wonderful: we have shared so many incredible moments and won four World Championships. Continuing this journey with the same Team I have spent my entire career with is truly special and is something I have always wanted to do."
"Working with Laurent for more than a year now has also been fantastic; I can see that he has a clear vision for the team. Everyone in Milton Keynes believes in what we are building and I cannot wait to take on the next chapter, fighting for more victories and competing for championships as we continue to shape the future of this team. Making this announcement during the final Grand Prix at Zandvoort is also a special moment for me. I hope we can give the fans a special farewell at the final race."
