Reigning World Champion to remain with Red Bull until the end of 2028.
Formula One’s reigning World Champion Max Verstappen has agreed to a long-term deal with Red Bull that will see the Dutch driver remain with the Austrian team until the end of the 2028 season. Verstappen’s deal is reported to be worth £40m a season, which means it rounds up to £200 million over the course of the five years. The new deal is double his current wages.
Speaking about his contract extension, Max Verstappen commented:
“I really enjoy being part of the Oracle Red Bull Racing Team, so choosing to stay to the 2028 season was an easy decision. I love this Team and last year was simply incredible, our goal since we came together in 2016 was to win the championship and we have done that, so now it’s about keeping the number one on the car long-term.”
Red Bull’s Team Principal and CEO, Christian Horner also spoke about Verstappen staying with the team and what it meant for the team and him, stating:
“To have Max signed with Oracle Red Bull Racing through to the end of 2028 is a real statement of intent. Our immediate focus is on retaining Max’s World Championship title, but this deal also shows he is a part of the Team’s long-term planning. With the Red Bull Powertrains division working towards the new engine regulations for 2026 we wanted to make sure we had the best driver on the grid secured for that car.”
Son of former Formula One driver Jos Verstappen, Max, a Red Bull Driver Academy junior, made his debut in 2014 with Scuderia Toro Rosso (now rebranded to AlphaTauri). Following Red Bull’s shock demotion of their then driver Daniil Kvyat, Verstappen was promoted to the senior team in 2016, where he won on his debut the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix.
After a stellar start, Verstappen had a few rough years with the team. Even though he won the occasional race in the season, he never competed for a title until last season. With Red Bull finally giving him a package he deserved and as the proven leader of the team, Verstappen was mostly untouchable throughout 2021. Not only did his race-craft improve, but the young hot-headed Dutchman also developed into a mature and experienced driver in his seventh season in Formula One, all at the age of 24.
After clinching the title in literally the very last lap of the race in 2021, and repaying Red Bull’s faith to keep him in the team over the likes of Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon, Verstappen delivered when it mattered most. Now, Red Bull have returned that courtesy.
Red Bull also needed Verstappen to sign a long-term deal, given all the other big teams have their futures secured. Ferrari have put their faith in Charles Lecler, while McLaren have decided Lando Norris will be leading the team into the future. With George Russell joining Mercedes, it is evident that Max is the one the Constructors’ champions believe in.
Red Bull also needed to make sure they have a driver to lead them not only into the new regulations era, but beyond that. With the second seat causing a lot of headaches for the Austrian team, and even though they have found a more than handy partner for Verstappen in the veteran Sergio Pérez, Red Bull have once again put their faith in the young Dutchman. And at 24, Verstappen has a long career ahead of him.
With Verstappen locked in for the future, Red Bull will hope to start the new regulations era on a high, and having taken their first World Championship title since 2013, the Austrian team will now hope to do the double.
Verstappen will kick off his title defence in Bahrain on March 20, 2022, when Formula One returns.
Leave a Reply