F1 fans overwhelmingly back Max Verstappen's Red Bull contract extension

Max Verstappen's decision to extend his Red Bull contract through at least 2030 has earned clear majority backing from F1 fans, according to a RacingNews365 poll. The four-time champion signed a two-year extension to his previous deal, which was set to expire after 2028, ending persistent rumors linking him to Mercedes and, more recently, McLaren.

Why it matters:

The extension removes one of the biggest driver-market storylines from the grid. Verstappen has been tied to Red Bull since his F1 debut in 2016, and if he stays until 2030, he would become the first driver in F1 history to spend 15 seasons with a single team. The fan verdict suggests most see stability as the right call.

The details:

• The RacingNews365 poll asked readers whether Verstappen made the correct decision to stay at Red Bull.
• 59.21% said yes, a decisive majority.
• Roughly a quarter of voters thought he should have tried to move to Mercedes.
• That option received nearly 34 percentage points less support than the winning choice.
• The remaining votes were split among other alternatives, including McLaren.

What's next:

Verstappen's long-term commitment gives Red Bull stability and ends the speculation that had followed the team. For the rest of the grid, the driver market now loses its biggest wildcard, with attention shifting to other seats for the coming seasons.