Closer to retiring than changing teams - why Verstappen stayed at Red Bull
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- Max Verstappen extended his Red Bull contract to the end of 2030 — adding two years to a deal that already ran through 2028 — and said at the announcement news conference: "I was closer to retiring than changing teams."
- The four-time champion's frustrations peaked after the Japanese Grand Prix, where F1's new hybrid engine energy-recovery rules robbed cars of 470bhp on long straights and prompted him to ask publicly whether racing was "worth it."
- Red Bull has had a winless 2026 season to date, with Verstappen repeatedly criticizing the car's performance; insiders say the new contract includes a small pay bump on top of F1's biggest driver salary plus exit clauses if expected performance isn't delivered.
- FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is pushing naturally aspirated V8 engines (ideally without hybrid components) for 2031, but Audi and Mercedes prefer turbocharged units — a debate Verstappen cited as potentially reopening his contract picture down the line.
- Mercedes had been long-time suitors and would likely have made room for Verstappen had he pushed to leave, while McLaren's appeal was tied to his friend and race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, who is moving there by 2028.
- Verstappen's stated love for Red Bull and the team's willingness to let him pursue extracurriculars — including a standout stint at the Nurburgring 24 Hours in May, where a late driveshaft failure cost him victory — were key factors in extending rather than switching.
Why it matters: Verstappen — F1's biggest star and a four-time champion — was genuinely weighing retirement at just 28, a scenario the sport's governing body nearly triggered by ignoring two years of driver warnings about the new hybrid power units. Securing him through 2030 stabilizes Red Bull's commercial position and removes the looming driver-market storyline that had Mercedes and McLaren circling.
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