Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
· collected 2026-08-20 · by AFP
Max Verstappen has signed a new contract with Red Bull Racing that will keep him with the team until 2030, ending speculation about his future in Formula One. The contract extension means that Verstappen, one of the most successful drivers in F1 history, will continue to drive for Red Bull despite struggling this season, sitting sixth in the drivers' championship after failing to finish several races. The new deal was announced by Red Bull on Thursday, just before preparations for Verstappen's home race, the Dutch Grand Prix, which he has won three times since its reintroduction in 2021 but lost his last two attempts to McLaren. Verstappen expressed his commitment to getting the team back to winning ways and stated that working with Red Bull is like being part of a "second family" for him.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-20,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Max Verstappen has signed a new contract with Red Bull Racing, extending his stay in Formula One until 2030. This deal comes just before Verstappen's home race at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort on Sunday. The four-time world champion had been considering leaving F1 due to struggles with the new power unit, but has chosen to continue with Red Bull. Verstappen first joined Red Bull as a junior driver in 2014, and this extension will keep him with the team for another six years. He currently sits sixth in the drivers' championship without a win through the first 11 grands prix.
Written for “Max Verstappen Contract” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 1495 · logged 2026-08-21
Multiple Formula One world champion Max Verstappen has signed a new contract with Red Bull Racing until the end of 2030, the team announced, ending speculation over his future in the sport.
asserted
team → sign → sport
We are delighted to announce that Max has signed a contract extension with the team until the end of 2030,” Red Bull said on X on Thursday.
asserted
Bull → delight → Thursday
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The news came with preparations in full swing for Verstappen’s home race this Sunday, the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort, and will delight his thousands of orange-clad fans.
asserted
news → score → fans
Verstappen is one of the most successful Formula One drivers of all time, dominating the sport with four consecutive world championships from 2021.
asserted
Verstappen → dominate → 2021
But results have been harder to come by this season, with the 28-year-old failing to see a chequered flag in the first half of the year and sitting sixth in the drivers’ championship.
asserted
old → come → championship
“This commitment is about more than continuing an already extraordinary alliance,” the team said in its statement.
asserted
team → continue → statement
“It is a powerful statement of mutual trust and ambition – and a shared decision to shape the future together.”
asserted
It → share → future
The uncompetitive nature of the Red Bull car this year has led many to speculate that the mercurial Dutchman could switch to another team or even leave Formula One entirely.
uncertain
Dutchman → lead → One
But Verstappen said he was keen to get the team back to winning ways.
asserted
team → say → ways
“We have the best people and I’m excited to keep working together with everyone to get back to the top again,” he was quoted as saying.
asserted
he → have → top
Dutch courage needed this weekend
The news adds even more spice to the last-ever edition of the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.
asserted
news → need → Zandvoort
Verstappen was unbeatable on his home track, winning the first three editions since it was reintroduced to the circuit in 2021.
asserted
it → win → 2021
But he has since been chasing McLaren in his own back yard, with Papaya drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri claiming the last two races.
asserted
Norris → chase → races
Verstappen is expected to don a special helmet for the occasion, inspired by the famous blue Delft pottery.
asserted
Verstappen → expect → pottery
The promoters decided not to continue racing at Zandvoort, partly due to uncertainty over Verstappen’s future given his importance for the popularity of the event.
“I have always said it: The team is like a second family for me and I feel very at home,” said Verstappen.
asserted
Verstappen → decide → home
“I came to the team hoping to be able to win races.
asserted
I → come → races
What we went on to achieve together has been simply lovely,” added Verstappen, using his trademark phrase.
asserted
Verstappen → go → phrase
