Paul Jeffrey
Premium
Young Dutch superstar Max Verstappen has renewed his Red Bull contract to the end of 2020, extending his current deal for a further season of racing with the Austrian team.
The 20-year-old driver has broken records throughout his short tenure in the top flight of open wheel racing, securing the award of youngest ever Grand Prix winner following his success at the Spanish Grand Prix last season, the first of two career victories for the Red Bull man.
Despite what has been a difficult season for Verstappen to date, the new deal will be seen as something of a relief for both parties, tying them together until the conclusion of the 2020 racing season and leaving Verstappen in a strong position to access his options at a time when many of the big name drivers could be out of contract with their respective teams.
“Red Bull has always shown their faith and belief in me with actions; inviting me in to the young driver programme as a 16-year-old, then giving me my start in Formula One when I was just 17, and then the opportunity to race with Red Bull Racing where I had such a dream start with this team,” said Verstappen on the confirmation of his contract extension.
“They have always backed me and my ambition and I know we share that ambition. Their support, from the guys and girls in the factory through to the crew in the garage, no matter what plays out on the race track, has always been 100 percent. We’ve also had some fun times! I’m very happy to commit further to Red Bull Racing and I’m looking forward to working together to enjoy more success in the years to come.”
Of course Red Bull are keen to hang on to one of the brightest talents on the Grand Prix grid for another three seasons, and with a deal via their junior Toro Rosso outfit to potentially utilise works Honda power in coming seasons should the Japanese concern perform to expectation in the next few years, Red Bull are well on their way to building the squad back to the level enjoyed during the golden Sebastien Vettel years.
Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing Team Principal added: “We are delighted that Max has agreed to extend his contract with Red Bull Racing. We had a phenomenal start together in Spain last year and Max has only pushed on from there. It was a great moment for the whole team to see him put the frustrations of this season behind him in taking that fantastic victory in Malaysia last month. He is pure racer, with an undeniable talent at the wheel and a rare instinct for what it takes to compete consistently at this level.
“Coupled with a committed work ethic and a mature approach to learning his craft that belies his years, Max is right to be hungry for success and we are looking forward to extending that journey with him in our hunt for Formula One World Championships. As we now look to the long term with Max he is in the best place in the sport to build a team around him to deliver our shared ambition.”
Daniel Ricciardo will remain alongside Verstappen next season, with the Australian's contractual situation also due to be a reviewed in the coming months.
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Pleased to see Verstappen remain at Red Bull until 2020? Can Verstappen and Red Bull fight for the title during the next three years? Let us know in the comments section below!
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