F1 Talk: What does Verstappen’s Red Bull Contract Extension Mean for F1?

Max Verstappen has extended his contract with Red Bull until the end of 2023 after growing fears that the Dutchman would be snapped up by Mercedes at the end of this season.

The 22-year old Dutchman has been with the team since he was promoted ahead of the 2016 Spanish GP in place of Daniil Kvyat and has grown into the role of team leader at Red Bull Racing.

After Charles Leclerc confirmed that he would be staying at Ferrari until 2024, Red Bull have locked down their main man until 2023. But Ferrari’s new deal with Leclerc was not the main reason for Red Bull’s urgency, it was the potential for Hamilton to go to Ferrari or leave Formula 1 at the end of this year and see Mercedes trying to snap up Verstappen for next season.

Helmut Marko, Advisor to Red Bull Racing said:

“We had a hard time guessing what the exact story was between Ferrari and Hamilton. But it was clear that Mercedes must act if Hamilton goes to Ferrari in 2021. And Max would have been the first driver they’d aim for.

“That was a very important step for us. Now we can look to the future with more confidence.” – Helmut Marko

In response to the new deal, Verstappen told the Telegraph:

“Red Bull gave me the opportunity to start in F1, which I am very grateful for.” 

“Honda coming on board, and the progress we have made over the last 12 months, gives me even more motivation and belief that we can win. Our goal is to fight for a world championship together.” – Max Verstappen

The new deal is reported to be £12m, which is £3m more than Leclerc’s shiny new deal with Ferrari. But this agreement now has huge ramifications not only for Red Bull, but the whole Formula 1 paddock for 2021.

For Red Bull, it is their dream scenario as after Daniel Ricciardo left them at the end of 2018, Max has been running the team as his own and barely put a foot wrong last year with three wins and two poles to his name.

With the Austrian outfit heading into their second season powered by Honda engines, the hope and optimism of a successful future will grow and grow with Verstappen secure for the foreseeable future. After being developed and nurtured in F1 by Red Bull, the hope is that now Max can deliver for Red Bull and in the next couple of years return F1 title success to Milton Keynes after a despiriting few years in the wake of Mercedes-Benz.

Talking of Mercedes, Max’s new deal is significant for them too as it means that should Hamilton decide to head to Ferrari in a bid to win another title with the Prancing Horse, Mercedes will have to plunge a bid deeper into the sea to replace the six-times world champion. As with both Leclerc and Verstappen tied down until the mid-2020s, Mercedes will be looking at best to replace him with an off-form Sebastian Vettel. This could be hugely damaging to the silver arrows as we head into the 2020s after they dominated the second half of the 2010s.

It also means that drivers at the Red Bull junior outfit, newly-renamed as Alpha Tauri, could have a longer wait to make the step up to the senior team. Pierre Gasly and Daniil Kvyat would not have taken the news with any particular delight as a long-term deal for Verstappen means that they are all fighting for the second seat.

But with Verstappen as good as he is, this is only a positive thing for Red Bull as the drivers who join Verstappen should be good enough for a supporting role, but are unlikely to be getting in his way many times. Alex Albon’s performances in the second half of 2019 were encouraging, but with Verstappen locked down for four years, the Thai drivers efforts will be closely monitored by the senior management at Red Bull.

This new deal has also put an end to any speculation that Vettel could end his career back at Red Bull as the German could get the most out of the Red Bull machines, but has been all at sea at Ferrari. Rumour pointed to the fact that he could end his career at Red Bull to salvage his reputation while helping the Austrian outfit to be closer to fighting for championship glory. It seems that taking on Leclerc at his own game is Vettel’s last chance to salvage the second-half of his career.

But most significantly, this deal signifies a battle for the next generation with Max Verstappen tied to Red Bull and Charles Leclerc secure at Ferrari, who will win a championship first in what is set to be the battle of the generation?