Max Verstappen: Red Bull driver says he was 'closer to retiring' than switching F1 teams before contract extended
Max Verstappen, who has extended his contract to 2030, explains why he wanted to stay at Red Bull and his position on F1's rules after earlier criticism; watch Dutch Grand Prix practice live on Sky Sports F1 at 11.30am on Friday, with Sprint Qualifying following at 3.30pm
Thursday 20 August 2026 17:19, UK
Max Verstappen said he came closer to retiring from Formula 1 than joining a rival team as he explained his reasons for extending his Red Bull contract.
In a relatively surprise announcement on the eve of his home Dutch Grand Prix, the first race back after the sport's summer break, Red Bull announced that Verstappen had extended his contract with them by two further years, to 2030.
The four-time world champion had been linked with Mercedes in each of the previous two years, while his management were understood to have spoken to McLaren. Verstappen had also called his whole F1 future into question earlier in the year with strong criticism of the sport's current engine rules.
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Asked in a Red Bull press conference at Zandvoort following Thursday's announcement if he had been close to considering a future away from Red Bull, and whether there had been the chance to join a rival, Verstappen replied: "I think I was closer to retiring than changing teams!
"But, no, all good."
Asked directly in the later official drivers' press conference about the existence of any rival offers, Verstappen said: "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter, does it? Well, not to me."
What changed for Verstappen to want to stay in F1 after rules complaints?
While Verstappen's previous contract at Red Bull ran to the end of the 2028 season, the deal was known to contain performance break clauses, while it had appeared in the new season's early weeks that the Dutchman might opt to walk away from the sport entirely due to dissatisfaction with the new-for-2026 power unit regulations which feature a near 50-50 split between between electrical and traditional internal combustion power.
But constructive talks between the sport's stakeholders, including drivers, led to early-season refinement of the regulations and an agreement to reduce the contribution of electrical power in 2027 and 2028.
Verstappen said on Thursday: "I have to say after the first few races I said to Laurent [Mekies, Red Bull's team principal], 'don't come to me with any kind of questions about the future, because I don't even know if I want to stay!'
"But honestly, we always kept it very open. I mean, I love racing and I think I had a lot of very good discussions with F1, but also with the FIA, and I think we are, let's say, slowly working towards something that becomes better and better.
"Also from my side, of course, you know, I adapted, I accept the situation that I think we're all in and just trying to make the best of that.
"I think also with the year that I signed to, it again opens up the door maybe when potentially the V8s come in to look at that again as well."
Verstappen was referring to the fact that 2030 could coincide with the first year of the sport's next engine formula, with a return to V8 engines - last used in the sport in 2013 - on sustainable fuels and with an element of electrification currently being explored.
He added: "It's what I said a bit before where I accepted kind of the situation that we're in. Personally, of course, I'm not happy with it but, at the same time, with the discussions that I've had with F1 and FIA already trying to make little improvements for next year or the year after.
"Plus, the year that I signed to - leaving the door open for a potential V8 return - I'm willing to accept that at the moment. It's, let's say, not fantastic but I still love racing.
"It's still a Formula 1 car. And some tracks [for energy deployment] are better than others. But, yeah, for sure, we know that in some areas I think we can improve. So, hopefully, over the years, it will get a little bit better."
'I never felt that desire or need to change to another team'
Verstappen and Red Bull have enjoyed stunning success in their decade together so far, with four drivers' titles from 2021-2024 and 71 race wins to establish themselves as one of F1's most decorated partnerships.
But the wholesale change in rules for this year has proved trickier so far, with just four podiums in 11 races, while Red Bull have appeared a team in transition over the past two years following a number of high-profile senior departures including Christian Horner, Adrian Newey and Helmut Marko.
Verstappen's long-standing race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, will also join McLaren by the start of the 2028 season.
But Verstappen said he had not felt the need to look for a different challenge elsewhere.
"A few names have left but, at the same time, it's still my family," said Verstappen, who was first signed by Red Bull to their junior programme as a 16-year-old in 2014.
"I never felt that desire or need to change to another team, to try and win somewhere else. If I feel well within the team here, why should I? Because I know that they do everything for me and they know that I do everything for them once I'm on the track and trying to get the results."
Verstappen's new deal will take him up to 15 seasons as a senior Red Bull driver and the 28-year-old quipped: "Practising for my own marriage! Just seeing how long I can eke that out in racing terms, and then try and triple that, at least, in marriage.
"I always said already, back in the day, when Dietrich (Mateschitz, team founder) was still alive, I said to him, my goal and target would be, of course, to race for Red Bull forever. So, we are on the good way."
Verstappen also batted away questions about whether, like his previous deal, there were break clauses in the latest contract.
"I mean, I've never disclosed anything in my contract," he replied. "So, yeah, that stays the same."
Sky Sports F1's live Dutch GP schedule
Thursday August 20
1pm: Drivers' Press Conference
4pm: Paddock Uncut
Friday August 21
11am: Dutch GP Practice (session starts at 11.30am)
12.55pm: F1 Academy Practice
2.30pm: Team Bosses' Press Conference
3pm: Dutch GP Sprint Qualifying (session starts at 3.30pm)
Saturday August 22
8.15am: F1 Academy Qualifying
10am: Dutch GP Sprint build-up
11am: DUTCH GP SPRINT*
1.30pm: F1 Academy Race 1
2.20pm: Dutch GP Qualifying build-up*
3pm: DUTCH GP QUALIFYING*
5pm: Porsche Supercup Race 1
Sunday August 23
9.35am: F1 Academy Race 2
10.50am: Porsche Supercup Race 2
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Dutch GP build-up
2pm: THE DUTCH GRAND PRIX
4pm: Chequered Flag: Dutch GP reaction
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
The Formula 1 season resumes after the summer break with a Sprint weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix from Friday, with every session live on Sky Sports. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime
