Former Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko also responds to the contract extension of his old protégé Max Verstappen. The Dutchman signed with the Austrian racing team until 2030. A crucial step for Red Bull, Marko believes: ‘This will bring peace and stability to the team’.
Read more Kimi Antonelli has a clear goal for Zandvoort: ‘Last win here for Mercedes was in 1955’
It was the news that shook the paddock on the Thursday before the last Dutch GP at Zandvoort: Max Verstappen has extended his contract with Red Bull until 2030. This immediately ended all speculation about the Dutchman’s future in F1. For Helmut Marko, who left the Austrian racing team at the end of 2025, the commitment of his old protégé was no surprise.
‘Max is the face of the team’
According to Marko, it was especially crucial for Red Bull itself to secure the four-time world champion. “Max is the face of the team, he is the leading figure,” he tells Krone Zeitung. “This contract extension is crucial. Every ambitious engineer wants to work with the best driver on the grid. This is the right signal at exactly the right moment. This will bring peace and stability to the team. He must have made his conditions for the extension clear.”
Read more VIDEO: Max Verstappen receives yellow jersey from Demi Vollering: ‘Have followed everything’
Speaking to the media at Zandvoort, Verstappen himself already indicated that 2030 was not chosen lightly. That year, the next regulation cycle will come into effect. “Whether a new engine will be introduced in 2030 or 2031 remains to be seen. But it certainly played a role,” said Marko.
Read everything about the Dutch GP in Zandvoort here
