Verstappen stays at Red Bull, not Mercedes, through 2030
Max Verstappen has extended his Red Bull Formula 1 contract through the end of 2030, telling reporters at Zandvoort he was "closer to retiring than changing teams" despite past links to Mercedes and McLaren. The four-time champion said he never felt the need to switch outfits.
Key Takeaways
- Verstappen's new Red Bull deal runs through the end of the 2030 season, adding two years to his previous contract.
- He said he was closer to retiring from F1 than joining a rival, after criticizing 2026 power-unit rules.
- Reports of a Mercedes move last year and McLaren interest this season are now effectively closed.
- Team principal Laurent Mekies called the renewal "phenomenal news" and a show of trust in the team's next winning cycle.
- Industry reporting cited by Yahoo Sports puts the 2027-2030 package near €460 million if bonuses hit.
Why did Verstappen stay at Red Bull instead of Mercedes?
According to ESPN, the extension was announced ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix and ends more than a year of future speculation, including reports linking him to Mercedes last year and McLaren this season.
"I never felt that desire or need also to change [to another team] to try and win somewhere else," Verstappen said. "If I feel well within the team here, why should I?"
Asked whether he had spoken to other teams, he joked: "I think I was closer to retiring than changing teams."
What pushed him toward retiring rather than a team switch?
Verstappen had threatened to quit F1 over the new power-unit regulations, which emphasize battery management. Early in 2026 he told Mekies not to raise future questions because he "didn't even know" if he wanted to stay in the championship.
Talks with Formula 1 and the FIA helped. Rule tweaks are planned over the next two years, with a simpler V8 concept on the table from 2030. That, he said, opens a door to reassess when those engines potentially arrive.
He has yet to win a race in 2026 and sits sixth in the standings behind drivers from Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren, after Red Bull's slow start with its Ford-partnered power unit.
How big is the new Red Bull payday?
Yahoo Sports, citing F1 business journalist Marc Limacher, reports a baseline salary of €92 million from 2027, rising to as much as €115 million with bonuses—about €460 million across 2027-2030 if maxima are reached. Those figures are industry claims, not an official Red Bull disclosure.
On Formula1.com, Mekies said Verstappen "always" wanted to stay and framed the deal as trust in the team's people, culture and vision.
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What does Mekies say the deal means for Red Bull?
"It's phenomenal news for Oracle Red Bull Racing," Mekies told F1.com, arguing the best driver on the grid recommitting for four-and-a-half more years is a pillar for the next winning cycle—and a responsibility to deliver a fast chassis and power unit.
At Zandvoort, Isack Hadjar will miss the Dutch GP with a training wrist injury, with Liam Lawson stepping into the senior seat and Yuki Tsunoda returning at Racing Bulls—separate news Mekies addressed alongside the contract.