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Max Verstappen signs new Red Bull deal

By Andrew BensonChief F1 writer in Austin

Last updated on .From the section Formula 1comments78

Max Verstappen
Verstappen is the youngest race winner in F1 history

Max Verstappen has extended his Red Bull contract by a year to the end of the 2020 season.

The move seems to end speculation about the possibility of the 20-year-old Dutchman moving to Mercedes or Ferrari within the next couple of years.

He said: "Red Bull has always shown their faith and belief in me.

"I'm very happy to commit further to them and I'm looking forward to working together to enjoy more success in the years to come."

Verstappen's previous contract ran until the end of 2019 but had clauses that could have seen him leave at the end of next season, depending on certain circumstances which are not public.

He was promoted to the Red Bull senior team from Toro Rosso part-way through the 2016 season and won his first race for the team at the Spanish Grand Prix.

He has since impressed with a series of starring drives, and took a second career victory in Malaysia two races ago.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said: "We are delighted that Max has agreed to extend his contract with Red Bull Racing. We had a phenomenal start together in Spain last year and Max has only pushed on from there.

Formula 1: Up close and personal with Max Verstappen

"It was a great moment for the whole team to see him put the frustrations of this season behind him in taking that fantastic victory in Malaysia.

"He is a pure racer, with an undeniable talent at the wheel and a rare instinct for what it takes to compete consistently at this level.

"As we now look to the long term with Max he is in the best place in the sport to build a team around him to deliver our shared ambition."

Verstappen is understood to have received a significant pay rise, but in some ways the move is a surprise - Red Bull's future is clouded in questions, especially over their engine supplier.

The team currently uses Renault engines, but that contract ends next season and the French company has told Red Bull it does not want to continue the partnership.

That makes it likely Red Bull will use Honda engines in 2019, which would be a major blow to their competitiveness if the Japanese company cannot improve its performance.

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen
Verstappen took his first win of the season with a dominant display in Malaysia on 1 October

However, it may be that Verstappen realised his options for a move were limited.

Lewis Hamilton is expected to sign a new contract at Mercedes to take him beyond 2018 and the German team would be unlikely to put Hamilton and Verstappen together because of the likelihood of tension in the team.

The same applies at Ferrari, where Sebastian Vettel is committed until the end of 2020 - the same date as Verstappen's new Red Bull deal expires.

The move also raises questions about the future of Verstappen's team-mate Daniel Ricciardo.

Horner has recently talked about the possibility of Verstappen "building the team around him" at Red Bull and the team are giving the impression that they are very much focused on their rising star.

Ricciardo, whose contract ends next year, may feel that he has to leave and is tipped as a potential candidate for Mercedes in 2019.

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78 comments

  • Comment posted by Simg, at 17:42 20 Oct 2017

    @2 button in 2011 and rosberg in 2016 show that your statement is incorrect. Hamilton has been beaten and can be beaten in the future. His talent is undeniable however and beating him is obviously very difficult.

  • Comment posted by Celts, at 17:06 20 Oct 2017

    This guy, Alonso or Riccardo should be in a Merc or a Ferrari.

    Bout time we saw some interesting inter team battles at the top of the grid.

  • Comment posted by munchie, at 17:14 20 Oct 2017

    Yep, agree with number one.

    Could you imagine the fireworks if Max joined Ferrari.

    I think Ferrari are hurting themselves by not having a competitive driver line up, Kimi is just to slow.

  • Comment posted by Ayrton_Prost, at 17:24 20 Oct 2017

    I actually think this will be good for him. Though we all want to see Max up against the likes of Lewis and Seb, developing one's skills further in a catered-to environment may very well do wonders for his increasing maturity. There's no doubt he's good enough to give anyone else on the grid a run for their money - but Max is still very young. Obviously Lewis hit the ground running, but oh well.

  • Comment posted by Stephen Taylor, at 17:51 20 Oct 2017

    thenestofvipers-I'm not sure about that I think Ricciardo will see how next season starts for RBR and go from there. If Ricciardo does leave I can see it being Mercedes.

  • Comment posted by Mad Dog Maddie, at 21:51 20 Oct 2017

    Max may or may not be the real deal. Only time will tell. Other hopefuls have fallen short in the past, such as JPM. Only once you have several world titles to your name can you be talked about as a 'great' driver (with the exception of those from previous generations whose careers were tragically cut short by accidents).

  • Comment posted by D_J, at 17:38 20 Oct 2017

    @2 "Nobody goes against Hamilton and live to for another day."

    I think Max would give him a run for his money in the same car.

  • Comment posted by thenestofvipers, at 17:54 20 Oct 2017

    Signing Verstappen for a further year now confirms Ricciardo will be off to another team before 2020 then. He's not signed for next year and Red Bull obviously don't want two new drivers for 2019 at the same time, so are at least keeping a bit of continuity.

  • Comment posted by VDU881, at 23:01 20 Oct 2017

    The deal's about right for Max. He can afford to take a punt on RBRs future engine outcome, because he's young.

    Daniel, on the other hand, would be wise to try to take a different route.
    I get the impression that RBR are slightly favouring Max, and Daniel may get overlooked.

  • Comment posted by Danny Smith, at 22:23 20 Oct 2017

    Well I'm not really surprised Verstappen is staying, but Red Bull and Honda getting together doesn't sound like a great idea especially given how petulant Red Bull can be with an engine supplier when things go poorly. It's probably just as well Torro Rosso has the engine for a year, before they do, so they can work on the numerous engine issues before the senior team has to deal with them.

  • Comment posted by Meanmerchant, at 23:38 20 Oct 2017

    Mixed news really, Max is clearly talented and see's his best chance at RBR. Can't blame him since Ferrari is all Vettel and Merc all Ham for the time being so nowhere for him to go in the near future and they may well come good. There is nowhere better for him to go until the old guard move on from their teams or the constructors becomes more open

  • Comment posted by UK-Minardi-Fan, at 19:05 20 Oct 2017

    @19

    Teams don't employ a pair of drivers to clash - they are not obliged to pair drivers based on how much fireworks they might produce.

    That's why we have Bottas teamed with Hamilton this year, and why no top team wants Alonso.

  • Comment posted by oobiedoobie, at 23:10 20 Oct 2017

    I think Ricciardo to Mercedes has just become an even bigger possibility.

    If RBR have started talking about building a team around VER that leaves RICC in a Mark Webber position being the disgruntled driver fighting against a number 2 status.
    Bottas on the other hand now has warning that a very talented and "cheaper" driver could be after his seat if he doesn't up his game in 2018.

  • Comment posted by PGB Addick, at 10:10 21 Oct 2017

    So anyway after that interruption, if this means Daniel will jump to Merc or Ferrari no matter who his team mate is, that's a win for me as a DR fan. Only so many years to get a title, may as well be with the big boys. Even a small drop in people drinking Red Bull will mean the end of their huge program for marketing dollars

  • Comment posted by Stock market chap, at 22:17 20 Oct 2017

    32. Posted by The Knowledge
    'In equal equipment: MAX is now putting RIC in the shade. RIC put, 4WDC, VET in the shade. I'd say that makes MAX the real deal'.

    And Ocon beat Verstappen in F3, so does that make Ocon better than all of them? No, you can only judge drivers on their record over a sustained period.

  • Comment posted by Ook the Librarian, at 17:17 20 Oct 2017

    Another great talent who's career is put on hold by team politicians

    RedBull will continue putting anexcellent chassis together (like Maclaren) but willultimately be limited by the lump in the back

    We want to see the best fighting it out ... not just stealing the odd win or (in Alonsos case) celebrate making the top 10

  • Comment posted by Meanmerchant, at 15:22 21 Oct 2017

    @71.oobiedoobie
    I completely agree with you that Mercedes promote competition between their drivers and that Bottas has equal opportunities. My own opinion is that they picked VB because he is a solid driver but will not cause the issues encountered with the NR LH partnership. If he had unexpectedly proved quicker than Lewis then I have no doubt they would have fully backed him.

  • Comment posted by UK-Minardi-Fan, at 18:24 20 Oct 2017

    All this means is Merc and Ferrari will pay even more to break the contract and get him sooner!

  • Comment posted by Rosbif, at 18:16 20 Oct 2017

    Given the unknowns regarding engines at RB in 2019 I am a little surprised at this. Whatever they've offered him,he's worth every penny.

  • Comment posted by User0154720943, at 20:39 20 Oct 2017

    The article doesn't mention whether his new contract still has performance clauses which could allow him to leave early. If it does then this deal makes sense for Verstappen.

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