Max Verstappen extends Red Bull contract through 2030

Max Verstappen signed a contract extension with Red Bull to the end of 2030 in Zandvoort on Thursday (August 20, 2026), ending speculation about the four-time world champion's near-term Formula One future. The 28-year-old's new deal was announced in a team statement on Thursday.

Verstappen already had a contract running to the end of 2028 that included break clauses tied to performance, and Dutch media reported those clauses were believed to have been triggered this season. After 11 races this year, Red Bull lie fourth overall and Verstappen sits sixth in the drivers' standings, 110 points behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli. Verstappen joined Red Bull's junior programme in 2014 and has won all his titles with the team.

Media reports had linked Verstappen to both McLaren and championship leaders Mercedes, while McLaren have signed his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase from 2028 at the latest.

In a team statement Verstappen said, "I am really pleased with the contract extension," and added, "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 also said, "I have always said it: The team is like a second family for me and I feel very at home... 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."

Team boss Laurent Mekies said very few partnerships in sport had achieved what Verstappen and Red Bull had, and the extension was rooted in trust. The Frenchman said, "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," and added, "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. "But we are not done yet. There are more races to win, more milestones to achieve and more history to write."

The announcement was made ahead of Verstappen's home grand prix this weekend.