Max Verstappen’s Formula One future is finally settled. After months of speculation about a possible move away from Red Bull, the four-time world champion has signed a new contract that will keep him with the team until the end of the 2030 season.
The decision comes at a difficult time for Red Bull. Under F1’s new 2026 regulations, the team has struggled to match its rivals, while Verstappen has also been linked with moves to Mercedes and McLaren. Yet, instead of walking away, he chose to stay with the team that has delivered all four of his world championships.
Verstappen has called Red Bull his “second family”. But how did this relationship begin, and how did a 17-year-old rookie become one of F1’s biggest stars?
Who Is Max Verstappen?
Max Emilian Verstappen was born on 30 September 1997 in Hasselt, Belgium. He grew up around motorsport and had racing talent on both sides of his family.
His father, Jos Verstappen, was a former Formula One driver who made more than 100 Grand Prix starts. His mother, Sophie Kumpen, was a successful kart racer. Max also has a younger sister, Victoria.
With that background, racing became a natural part of his childhood. Verstappen quickly progressed through karting and junior single-seater championships.
From 17-Year-Old Rookie To Red Bull Star
In 2014, Verstappen was signed to the Red Bull Junior Team and was announced as a Toro Rosso driver for the 2015 season.
He made his F1 debut at just 17 years and 166 days, becoming the youngest driver to start a Grand Prix. He also became the youngest driver to score F1 points after finishing seventh at the Malaysian Grand Prix.
His promotion to Red Bull came even faster.
In 2016, Verstappen was moved from Toro Rosso to Red Bull midway through the season. He immediately made history by winning the Spanish Grand Prix, becoming the youngest-ever Formula One race winner at the time.
That victory was the beginning of a partnership that would define his career.
The Hamilton Rivalry That Changed F1
Verstappen’s career reached another level in 2021, when he went head-to-head with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
The two fought across all 22 races, with the championship lead changing hands five times. They finished first and second together 14 times, while several on-track clashes added even more tension to the season.
The rivalry reached its climax at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Verstappen and Hamilton arrived at the final race level on points. A late Safety Car restart set up a one-lap fight for the title, and Verstappen overtook Hamilton to win the race and claim his first world championship.
It was one of the most controversial and memorable title finishes in modern F1.
Four Titles And 71 Wins Later
The 2021 championship was only the start.
Verstappen went on to win the Drivers’ Championship again in 2022, 2023 and 2024. He became a four-time world champion with four consecutive titles.
According to Formula 1, he has also recorded 71 Grand Prix victories with Red Bull. His 2024 title was followed by an especially close 2025 season, when he mounted a late comeback but finished just two points behind McLaren’s Lando Norris.
That record has placed Verstappen among F1’s most successful drivers.
Why Has 2026 Been Different?
The 2026 season has been far tougher for Verstappen.
New technical regulations changed the balance of power in F1, and Red Bull has struggled to match its previous level of competitiveness. Verstappen had not won a race in the season so far as of 20 August and sat sixth in the Drivers’ Championship. He had, however, finished on the podium four times.
Red Bull itself was fourth in the constructors’ standings, while Mercedes and other teams had made stronger starts to the new regulations era.
That made his decision to stay until 2030 even more significant.
Verstappen said he still believed in Red Bull’s people and its future. He also described the team as a “second family” and said his goal was to return to winning races and fighting for championships.
From Orange Army To “Tu Tu Du Du”
Verstappen’s popularity has also created a huge fan culture around him, especially in the Netherlands.
His supporters are known for turning races into a sea of orange, particularly at his home Grand Prix in Zandvoort. The fan culture has also produced one of F1’s most recognisable chants and songs: “Tu Tu Du Du, Max Verstappen”.
The chant became a social media favourite and has become closely associated with Verstappen and his supporters.
For an F1 driver, that level of fan identity is unusual. For Verstappen, it has become part of the spectacle around his career.
F1 Is Not His Only Racing Fix
There is another side to Verstappen’s racing life that has become increasingly interesting: GT3 and endurance racing.
He has been exploring GT3 racing through Verstappen.com Racing and has made it clear that he wants to experience different forms of motorsport while he is still at his peak.
In September 2025, Verstappen won a Nürburgring Endurance Series race on his GT3 debut, driving a Ferrari 296 GT3 with Chris Lulham.
In 2026, he stepped up to the Nürburgring 24 Hours in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Dani Juncadella, Jules Gounon and Lucas Auer. The team had been in contention before a driveshaft problem ended its challenge.
Verstappen has said he does not want to wait until he is 40 to explore other forms of racing.
His Red Bull deal therefore gives him something beyond F1 security. It also allows him to continue pursuing his wider motorsport interests alongside his main career.
So, What Comes Next?
The immediate challenge is simple: Red Bull needs to find its way back to the front.
Verstappen’s new contract gives the team stability as it develops its own power unit in partnership with Ford under the 2026 regulations.
The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort is also an important moment. The 2026 race will be the final Dutch Grand Prix for the foreseeable future, making Verstappen’s home event particularly significant for his fans.
By staying until 2030, Verstappen has chosen to build the next chapter of his career with the same team that helped turn him into a world champion.
The question now is not whether he can win again. It is whether Verstappen and Red Bull can rebuild quickly enough to challenge for another championship.
TL;DR | News At Glance
Why did Max Verstappen extend his Red Bull contract?
He signed a new deal that keeps him with Red Bull until the end of 2030, despite interest from rival teams.
How long has Verstappen been with Red Bull?
He joined Red Bull’s senior team in 2016 after starting his F1 career with Toro Rosso in 2015.
How many F1 titles has he won?
He has won four consecutive Drivers’ Championships, from 2021 to 2024.
How many races has he won?
He has 71 Grand Prix victories, according to Formula 1.
What happened between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton?
They fought a fierce championship battle in 2021, with Verstappen beating Hamilton in the final race in Abu Dhabi to win his first title.
How is Verstappen performing in 2026?
As of 20 August, he had not won a race and was sixth in the Drivers’ Championship, although he had four podium finishes.
What is the “Tu Tu Du Du” song?
It is a fan chant associated with Verstappen that became a popular part of the online and race-day culture surrounding him.
What happens next?
Verstappen and Red Bull will now focus on rebuilding their competitiveness under the new 2026 regulations and returning to the championship fight.
