Formula 1: Max Verstappen return to Red Bull Racing in 2020 all but confirmed

Max Verstappen returning to Red Bull Racing in the Formula 1 season is all but confirmed given the team’s current situation and that of Mercedes.

Max Verstappen entered the 2019 Formula 1 season in the second year of a three-year contract extension with Aston Martin Red Bull Racing that he signed in October of 2017.

However, Red Bull Racing team manager Helmut Marko stated that Verstappen has a performance clause in his contract that he could trigger to leave the team after the 2019 season if they do not give him a car that is capable of winning the championship.

Marko’s statement prompted rumors that the 21-year-old Dutchman could leave the Milton Keynes-based team and sign with Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport to replace Valtteri Bottas given the dominant start to the 2019 season that the Silver Arrows had.

Marko further heated up these rumors when he made a statement a few months later that illustrated his growing concern about Verstappen leaving, and Verstappen’s father, Jos, a former Formula 1 driver himself, even retweeted the article containing Marko’s quote.

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However, at this point, Verstappen returning to Red Bull Racing for at least the 2020 season is all but confirmed.

Bottas signed a one-year contract extension with Mercedes in July of 2018, and this contract extension contains an additional one-year option that the Brackley-based team have not decided if they will pick up.

However, their decision is reportedly between Bottas and Mercedes junior, test and reserve driver Esteban Ocon.

Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, is already slated to return to Mercedes for the 2020 season after signing a two-year contract extension with the team in July of 2018.

Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner even recently joked about the Verstappen to Mercedes rumors, suggesting that Verstappen and Hamilton becoming teammates was only an option if Hamilton left Mercedes and signed with Red Bull Racing.

Here is what Horner had to say, according to Formula 1.

"“In terms of having those two in one team, I haven’t heard from Lewis either that he wants to join next year.”"

Additionally, when the team confirmed that they would be replacing Pierre Gasly with Scuderia Toro Rosso rookie Alexander Albon starting with the next race on the schedule, the Belgian Grand Prix, their statement also revealed that Verstappen is slated to return to the team next year.

Here is the part of this statement that revealed this, according to Formula 1.

"“The team will use the next nine races to evaluate Alex’s performance in order to make an informed decision as to who will drive alongside Max in 2020.”"

As for Verstappen himself, nobody has performed at a higher level over the last several races. He has won two of the last four races, and he has collected a series-high 81 points during this four-race span. Hamilton’s point total of 63 during this span is the second highest.

If not for Scuderia Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel crashing into him late in the British Grand Prix, he could be on a streak of four consecutive podium finishes after starting the season with two podium finishes in the first eight races.

Verstappen now sits in third place in the driver standings with 181 points, and he trials Bottas by just seven points for second. He has recorded 21 consecutive top five finishes going back more than one year ago.

It is clear that Honda have made huge strides in their first season supplying Red Bull Racing with engines after the team ended their 12-year relationship with Renault, and it is clear that Red Bull Racing have made huge strides in their attempt to ascend to a championship level as well.

Verstappen really has no reason to leave the team at this point.

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Whether or not an official confirmation about Max Verstappen returning to the Red Bull Racing ends up being made remains to be seen. Technically, because his contract does not expire until the 2020 Formula 1 season ends, there really doesn’t need to be an official announcement, but given the rumors about him potentially leaving the team that have lasted for several months now, there very well may be.

If there is, expect to hear it in the near future; after all, Mercedes are slated to confirm their driver lineup for next year later this month.

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