Formula One: Red Bull Racing extends Max Verstappen’s contract through 2020

By Asher Fair | Oct 21, 2017

AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 19: Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing looks on in the Paddock during previews ahead of the United States Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas on October 19, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) /

Red Bull Racing has extended the contract of Max Verstappen through the 2020 Formula One season, ending speculation that he will land elsewhere before then.

Max Verstappen, 20, will be staying put at Red Bull Racing for at least another three seasons, ending speculation that he would land at either Mercedes or Ferrari before then, perhaps even before his contract was initially set to expire at the end of the 2019 season.

Red Bull Racing and the third-year driver agreed on a contract extension through the 2020 Formula One season on Friday. Verstappen began driving for Red Bull Racing in the fifth race of last season in Spain, and he actually won that race to become the youngest winner of a Formula One race in the history of the sport at 18 years and 228 days old.

Verstappen began driving at Red Bull Racing in the fifth race of the 2016 season after spending a full season, his rookie season, driving for Toro Rosso, the Red Bull Racing junior team, and driving for the team to open up the 2016 season, his second season in the sport.

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Verstappen’s top finishes driving for Toro Rosso in the 2015 season were 4th place efforts in Hungary and the United States en route to a 12th place finish in the championship standings. He opened up the 2016 with three straight top 10 finishes for the team before sustaining a retirement in the fourth race of the season.

However, he has driven for Red Bull Racing ever since, and while his only victory last season was in Spain, he racked up six other podium finishes to go with it in the final 16 races of the season, including four 2nd place results. He finished in 5th place in the final drivers standings at 19 years of age.

So far this season, Verstappen has finished just nine of 16 races, largely in part to issues with his race car. However, in the nine races he has finished, he has finished outside of the top 5 just once and has three podium finishes, with one result on each step. His lone win so far this season and second career victory came at Malaysia.

Here is what Verstappen had to say about his new contract extension.

"“Red Bull has always shown their faith and belief in me with actions; inviting me in to the young driver program as a 16-year-old, then giving me my start in Formula One when I was just 17. 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.”"

Next: Looking back at Lewis Hamilton's record-setting accomplishment

As far as the uncertain futures of Formula One’s top three teams goes, another domino has fallen, with this one affecting all three of those teams. Max Verstappen staying put at Red Bull Racing through the 2020 season means he should not be a factor for a seat at Mercedes or Ferrari until 2021, which is still more than three years away. So which three drivers will land in the three seats that are set to open up among those teams after the 2018 season?

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