Verstappen extends contract with Red Bull until the end of 2028

Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen will continue to drive with his current team Red Bull Racing until at least 2028. The world champion has extended his current contract, which ran until the end of 2023, by five years. That’s what Red Bull has announced on Thursday†

The team did not say how much money is involved in the deal. Such information is always kept strictly secret in Formula 1. The Telegraph reported Wednesday based on insiders that Verstappen (24) will earn 40 to 50 million euros annually. Whether this is true is difficult to verify. There is also nothing known about any exit clauses in Verstappen’s contract, which could come into effect if Red Bull cannot provide the Dutchman with a good car for a longer period of time.

A contract term like Verstappen’s is rare in Formula 1, although the driver says it was an “easy decision” to commit to the team for so long. “I love this team, and last year was just incredible. […] The goal is to keep the number 1 on our car in the longer term.” It is not common in Formula 1 for drivers to be bought by other teams, as often happens in football. So there is a good chance that Verstappen will serve out the contract.

Also read: Verstappen had luck on his side at the right time

‘Rest of my life’

Last December, shortly after crossing the finish line as world champion in Abu Dhabi, said Verstappen already that he wanted to stay with the team for a very long time – “the rest of my life” -. He has been racing for Red Bull Racing since 2016. At the age of 18, he immediately won his first race for the team. However, due to persistent reliability problems and because the Red Bull cars were always less good than those of the dominant Mercedes, it took years before Verstappen could fight for the championship. In 2021 he immediately took his first serious chance.

The new Formula 1 season will start in Bahrain in just over two weeks. The Grand Prix of the Netherlands in Zandvoort is also on the program in September. Which cars are the best – and which drivers can fight for victory – hasn’t been this unpredictable in years. Due to major changes to the car design rules, all teams have developed completely new cars.

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