Red Bull offer Max Verstappen five-year contract extension

Red Bull have reportedly offered Max Verstappen a five-year contract extension keeping him at Milton Keynes through 2033. The deal includes a significant raise but would remove the exit clause from his current contract, which expires in 2028. Verstappen is believed to prefer a one-year extension that preserves his flexibility while he evaluates the team's future competitiveness.

Why it matters:

Red Bull is fighting to retain its franchise driver during a turbulent 2026 campaign in which Verstappen has repeatedly criticized the team's current challenger. The Dutchman holds an active exit clause after falling outside the championship's top two at the season's halfway mark, with an October deadline looming. Securing Verstappen is essential for Red Bull as it navigates its first full season without Adrian Newey at the technical helm.

The details:

• F1-Insider reports Red Bull's five-year offer replaces the exit clause with a lucrative long-term package.
• Verstappen's camp previously declined an €8 million payment to buy out that clause, signaling a desire to keep options open.
• He prefers a one-year add-on to see whether Newey's successors can produce a race winner in 2027 before committing long-term.
• McLaren and Mercedes appear locked in with their current lineups, though Ferrari remains a theoretical option post-2027.

What's next:

Verstappen must decide by October whether to trigger his exit clause and field offers from rivals. He calls Red Bull a "second family," yet his push for a short-term deal suggests he is keeping his options open. With Formula 1 returning to Zandvoort this weekend, a strong performance could be crucial to convincing him that Milton Keynes remains the right place to race.