Max Verstappen has secured a new contract with Red Bull Racing that extends his stay through 2030, lifting any doubts that the already‑famed Dutch driver might leave Formula 1 earlier this season.
Contract Extension Confirmed
Red Bull’s chief Stefano Domenicali announced the deal on Thursday, raising the expiry from the end of 2028 to the conclusion of the current regulation cycle in 2030. He added that the extension is a “cherry on the cake” for the weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, praising Verstappen as a “world champion” with a “great personality.”
The move was largely prompted by F1’s planned 2027 changes, which would increase the use of ICE power. Verstappen’s decision to stay reflected the belief that the Red Bull RB22’s challenges—especially balance and traction—require a long‑term partnership to be addressed.
Performance at Zandvoort Highlights Car Issues
Despite the contract announcement, Verstappen was unable to celebrate at Zandvoort, where he finished sixth in the sprint—matching his start position—and qualified seventh for the grand prix, 0.5 seconds adrift of Lando Norris. The RB22’s shortcomings were clearer on the blend‑of‑fast‑corners circuit, a characteristic that the team says highlights balance issues that “have been that way all season.”
“We changed quite a lot on the car after the sprint, but none of it made any difference,” Verstappen said. “The balance of the car is the biggest problem. It’s just not consistent throughout the entire corner. When you lack a good balance, you can’t attack corners or get out of them properly, and all of that costs time.”
The unsatisfied driver also noted that, at this venue, lacking traction at fast corners further compounds time losses—a particular weakness for the RB22 that the team identifies as needing resolution to keep up at the most demanding circuits.
With Verstappen’s new longevity commitment confirmed, Red Bull’s focus will move beyond contract formalities to solving fundamental car issues that affect performance beyond Zandvoort, ensuring the Dutchman’s championship pursuits remain solidly grounded in 2026 and beyond.
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