Max Verstappen has extended his contract with Red Bull until 2028.
Red Bull has stated that they are not worried about any interest from Mercedes in Max Verstappen, emphasizing that his performance is what drives him as the current champion.
Mercedes is in search of a new driver to partner with George Russell starting next season, following the surprising news of Lewis Hamilton’s departure to Ferrari in 2025.
The Team Principal of Mercedes acknowledged that the timing was not ideal, but hinted that contracts could be terminated if all parties come to an agreement.
Verstappen is committed to Red Bull until 2028 and has expressed his loyalty to the team, although he did admit that he is not completely ruling out the possibility of a potential move.
Throughout his Formula 1 career, the Dutchman has been associated with Red Bull and has taken advantage of the team’s recent dominance to achieve 53 victories and secure three championship titles.
While Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko acknowledges the existence of clauses in Verstappen’s contract, he believes that a lucrative salary alone would not be enough to entice him to leave.
When asked about the likelihood of Verstappen not fulfilling his long-term agreement with Red Bull, Marko stated, “Like in every Formula 1 contract, there are clauses that come into play if certain success criteria are not met. These clauses are also included in Max’s contract.”
“I don’t think an astronomical amount of money is a concern for Max. If we are unable to provide him with a winning car…of course, he is interested in success as a racing driver. Time is ticking, and he won’t be getting any younger.”
“If he doesn’t see a bright future with Red Bull and these criteria become relevant, then it’s clear that he will explore other options. But where else would be better?”
Red Bull will need to make a decision on who will partner Verstappen next season at some point this year, as Sergio Perez’s contract expires at the end of 2024 and his future with the team is uncertain.
Despite achieving his career-best second place in the Drivers’ Championship, Perez had a challenging season last year, finishing 290 points behind his teammate.
Marko clarified that Red Bull will evaluate Perez’s performance in the early races of the season, but it is unlikely that a decision will be made in the coming months.
When asked about when a decision can be expected regarding Perez, Marko responded, “Perez still has a contract until 2024: the ball is in his court.”
“If he performs similarly to how he ended the last races [of 2023], then we can certainly discuss a contract extension.”
“Ricciardo needs to prove that he can clearly outperform Tsunoda [at RB]. Then he might be considered.”
“But if you’re looking for a specific date, I would say that certain considerations could be made after the summer break.”