Although the deal takes Verstappen to the end of 2030, there are still mechanisms by which he could leave if performance does not come up to expectations.
This is standard practice in driver contracts in F1. The details are not yet known, and teams do not comment on contractual intricacies.
Mekies said: “Having Max continue with us and retaining the best driver on the grid is fantastic news.
“Very few partnerships in sport achieve what Max and this team have. Since the very beginning, Max has embodied everything that makes Red Bull Racing special: uncompromising competitiveness, relentless determination and the courage to challenge convention.
“His impact on our team and Red Bull’s motorsport story has been transformational and he has been fundamental to 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 Max’s confidence in our people, our culture and our vision for the future.
“Forged through championship-winning success, intense battles and challenging moments alike, this relationship has only grown stronger – making it one of Formula 1’s greatest success stories. But we are not done yet. There are more races to win, more milestones to achieve and more history to write.”
Verstappen started his F1 career with Red Bull’s junior team, then called Toro Rosso, in 2015. He was promoted to the senior team after four races of his second season, 2016, and immediately won his first race.
He has since gone on to win 71 grands prix alongside his four world titles, with his tally of race victories ranking third in all-time F1 history after Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher.
