Max Verstappen has ended the 2027-seat chaos, but his explanation for staying with Red Bull Racing is less about blind loyalty than a willingness to help the team find success once again and to wait for Formula 1’s new rules to improve.
Yesterday, Red Bull announced that Verstappen’s deal now runs until 2030, two years beyond the previous 2028 end date. This came ahead of Zandvoort’s August 21–23 Dutch Grand Prix, which will be the venue’s last race on the calendar.
Laurent Mekies became Red Bull’s team principal in July 2025 after a spat of drama involving former team chief Christian Horner and other politics going on behind the scenes. Verstappen’s confidence in the Frenchman’s leadership is an important part of this extended partnership.
Despite Verstappen capturing no wins so far this season, he has four podium finishes – something that will certainly take the edge of a difficult year so far which has been compounded by issues with his Red Bull machinery.
That is fairly unglamorous context to a deal lasting until 2030. At 28, Verstappen has claimed 71 race victories and secured four Red Bull world titles between 2021 and 2024. After finishing two points behind Lando Norris in the 2025 championship, Verstappen is hardly a driver prepared to walk away from a possible advantage. It is a bet on recovery.
“I have to say, after the first few races, I said to Laurent, ‘Don’t don’t come to me with any kind of questions about the future because I don’t even know if I want to stay.’ But honestly, we always kept it very open. And I love racing, and I think I had a lot of very good discussions with F1, but also with the FIA. And I think we are, let’s say, slowly working towards something that becomes better and better.
“Also from my side, I adapted, I accept the the situation that I think we’re all in, and just trying to make the best of that. And I think also with the year that I signed to, it again opens up the door maybe, you know, when potentially the V8s come in, to look at that again as well.”
ZANDVOORT, NETHERLANDS – AUGUST 20: Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing speak to the media during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort on August 20, 2026 in Zandvoort, Netherlands. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202608200322 // Usage for editorial use only //Why Verstappen Accepted Red Bull’s Long RoadHe said talks with Formula 1 and the FIA over the future direction of engine regulations was a big influence on his choice.
“It’s what I said a bit before, where I accepted kind of the situation that we’re in. I’m personally, of course, I’m not happy with it, but at the same time, with the discussions that I’ve had with F1 and FIA, already trying to make little improvements for next year, the year after, plus the year that I signed to, leaving the door open for potential V8 return… I’m willing to – yeah – accept that at the moment it’s, let’s say, not fantastic, but I still love racing.
“I mean, it’s still a Formula 1 car. And some tracks are better than others, but yeah for sure we know that in some areas I think we can improve, so hopefully over the years it will it will get a little bit better.”
The FIA’s planned 2027 rules would add about 50 kW of combustion power and cut electric deployment by roughly 50 kW. The current technical-rule period runs from 2026 through 2030, meaning Verstappen’s new contract covers the entire cycle, although the moving to V8 engines in 2030 is an idea that has been floated by FIA leader Ben Sulayem.
While Gianpiero Lambiase is set to leave for McLaren after his Red Bull contract ends in 2027 following earlier departures including Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley, Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay, the Dutchman still has a want to remain in what he feels is a Red Bull family.
“Well, it’s it’s what I said before, it’s just the very open discussions that I’ve had also with with Laurent and within the team as well. And of course, I feel at home, but we are, well, I think you’re never satisfied,” he said. “Even when you’re winning, you’re not satisfied, but you always want to be better. And of course, yes, people have left, but at the same time, you’re looking at new talent and bringing other people in, and that’s that’s what we’re doing.
“So, of course time will tell how successful we will be, but that’s the same for everyone, right? Because no one can promise that they are going to win next year or the year after. So, I do have the belief that with the people here that we can. And now, we just have to work for it.”
Red Bull’s 2026 campaign began under major technical changes, and the team is still rebuilding while Verstappen waits for the results. He is not signing because the present is perfect. He is signing because he believes the people, the regulations and the possibility of a stronger car make staying worthwhile.
That is a much more revealing vote of confidence than the drivers‘ standings would suggest.
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