It was only a matter of time, Max Verstappen has just joined Red Bull, a team with which he has been racing since 2016. Announced as a "great historic contract" by the Dutch daily De Telegraaf, the recent F1 world champion extends until 2028. He is expected to earn a record salary of around 50 million euros per year.
The 24-year-old Dutchman, whose contract expired at the end of 2023, will still have the opportunity to fill his trophy cabinet already stocked with 20 Grand Prix victories.
He is, with Hamilton, the favorite of the season which begins on March 20 in Bahrain.
Really proud to announce that @redbullracing will be my home until at least 2028. I love this team and I am very happy to continue this amazing journey we are on for a long time.
We have accomplished so much together already but we are definitely not done.💪✍️ pic.twitter.com/ONWq32B835
— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) March 3, 2022
This signing should offer some stability to the Dutchman, as Formula 1 enters a new technical and financial era (one-season budgets are limited).
Red Bull, which has not won a constructor's title since 2013, has also been able to keep its star.
Christian Horner, the director of the Austrian team is delighted: “Signing Max Verstappen with Red Bull until the end of 2028 is real proof of our strength.
Our immediate objective is to retain the World Drivers' title, but this agreement also shows that it incorporates long-term planning.
“The marriage therefore seems perfect between the two parties and this decision seemed inevitable for the native of Limburg in Belgium.
“I really enjoyed being part of Red Bull, so choosing to extend until 2028 was an easy decision.