Projected 2018 driver lineup
Red Bull Racing
The contract of Daniel Ricciardo, 28, with Red Bull Racing does not expire until the end of the 2018 Formula One season, so while it is widely believed that he will be driving for Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport in the 2019 season, he will still be with Red Bull Racing next season.
Ricciardo won this season’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix for his fifth career victory, giving him at least one victory in three of his four seasons as a Red Bull Racing driver so far. He currently sits in 4th place in the standings but should be much more of a championship contender next season in his seventh full-time season in the sport since Red Bull Racing has been improving as of late.
It was widely speculated that Max Verstappen, 20, would be leaving Red Bull Racing after the 2018 Formula One season despite the fact that his contract ran through the 2019 season since it was believed that said contract had an opt-out clause. But a recent extension with the team keeps him under contract through the 2020 season. Regardless, there was never really a chance of him going elsewhere in 2018, which is what this article is about.
Verstappen, who sits in 6th place in the drivers standings, has tripled his career victory total so far this season in his third career full-time season as a Formula One driver and his first full season as a Red Bull Racing driver. He has won two races this year so far after coming into the season with one career victory as an 18-year-old last season.