Verstappen extends Red Bull deal to 2020
Max Verstappen has extended his contract with the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team until the end of the 2020 season, it was announced on Friday.
Photo by: Sutton Images
The Dutchman's current deal was to expire at the end of 2019, so the announcement means he has extended his contract by just one year.
"Red Bull has always shown their faith and belief in me with actions; inviting me in to the young driver programme as a 16-year-old, then giving me my start in Formula 1 when I was just 17, and then the opportunity to race with Red Bull Racing where I had such a dream start with this team," said Verstappen.
"They have always backed me and my ambition and I know we share that ambition. Their support, from the guys and girls in the factory through to the crew in the garage, no matter what plays out on the race track, has always been 100 percent.
"We've also had some fun times! I'm very happy to commit further to Red Bull Racing and I'm looking forward to working together to enjoy more success in the years to come."
Verstappen made his grand prix debut at the age of 17 in 2015 with Toro Rosso, before moving up to Red Bull for the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, where he replaced Daniil Kvyat.
The Dutchman went on to win the Barcelona race, becoming the youngest-ever winner in Formula 1.
"We are delighted that Max has agreed to extend his contract with Red Bull Racing," said team boss Christian Horner.
"We had a phenomenal start together in Spain last year and Max has only pushed on from there. 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 last month.
"He is pure racer, with an undeniable talent at the wheel and a rare instinct for what it takes to compete consistently at this level.
"Coupled with a committed work ethic and a mature approach to learning his craft that belies his years, Max is right to be hungry for success and we are looking forward to extending that journey with him in our hunt for Formula 1 world championships.
"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."
Be part of Motorsport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Full report: Flashback to Schumacher’s 100th F1 podium
Martin: Marquez can fight for MotoGP victories from start of season
2021 IndyCar champion Palou joins McLaren as F1 reserve driver
Verstappen named in 2024 Time 100 list
Verstappen: Not smart to pick returning China for F1 sprint weekend
The three factors behind Verstappen overturning Perez's real Suzuka advantage
Newey: F1 grid to close up even more before being ‘blown apart’ in 2026
F1 Chinese GP: How to watch, ESPN Formula 1 TV times in USA
The ironic reason Newey thinks Red Bull hasn't been caught in F1 yet
Porsche lodges appeal over da Costa's Misano Formula E disqualification
Ricky Taylor looking for redemption at Long Beach
How Senna’s early Pacific GP exit raised his Benetton suspicions
What could have been: When Villeneuve’s shock return thwarted an F1 rookie
What's been going wrong for Leclerc in F1's tiny margins qualifying game
What the Chinese GP's highlights reveal about its first F1 race for five years
The secrets of F1 turbocharging explained
Why Alpine’s rigorous training camp yields telling insights into its juniors
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments