Max Verstappen renews contract with Red Bull until 2028.
Red Bull stated that they are not concerned about Mercedes’ interest in Max Verstappen, emphasizing that his performance is what motivates them as the current champion.
Mercedes is looking for a new driver to partner with George Russell starting from next season, following the surprising news of Lewis Hamilton’s departure to Ferrari in 2025.
The Team Director of Mercedes acknowledged that the timing is not ideal, but hinted that contracts can be terminated if all parties reach an agreement.
Verstappen is committed to Red Bull until 2028 and has expressed his loyalty to the team, although he admitted that he does not completely rule out the possibility of a potential move.
Throughout his Formula 1 career, the Dutchman has been associated with Red Bull and has taken advantage of the team’s recent dominance to achieve 53 victories and win three championship titles.
Although Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko acknowledges the existence of clauses in Verstappen’s contract, he believes that a lucrative salary alone would not be enough to persuade him to leave.
When asked about the likelihood of Verstappen not fulfilling his long-term agreement with Red Bull, Marko stated: “As with any Formula 1 contract, there are clauses that come into play if certain success criteria are not met. These clauses are also included in Max’s contract.”
“I don’t believe an astronomical amount of money is a concern for Max. If we cannot provide him with a winning car… of course, he is interested in success as a racing driver. Time is passing, and he is not getting any younger.”
If he does not see a bright future with Red Bull and these criteria become relevant, then of course he will explore other options. But where else would be better?”
Red Bull will need to make a decision on who will be Verstappen’s partner for the next season at some point this year, as Sergio Perez’s contract expires at the end of 2024 and his future with the team is uncertain.
Despite achieving his best placement in the drivers’ standings in second place, Perez had a challenging season last year, finishing 290 points behind his teammate.
Marko clarified that Red Bull will evaluate Perez’s performance in the first races of the season, but it is unlikely that a decision will be made in the coming months.
When asked when a decision can be expected regarding Perez, Marko responded: “Perez still has a contract until 2024: the ball is in his court.”
“If he performs similarly to the end of the last races [of 2023], then we can certainly discuss a contract extension.”
“Ricciardo needs to prove that he can clearly outperform Tsunoda [at RB]. Then he can be considered.”
“But if you’re looking for a specific date, I would say certain considerations can be made after the summer break.”
