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.”“We are delighted that Max has agreed to extend his contract with Red Bull Racing. Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)Verstappen locks in to Red Bull until 2020 with new F1 contract Getty Images. 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.”The news creates several burning questions as the grid prepares for this weekend’s US GP.Red Bull wants Max Verstappen to be a star. But we are not fully in control of how competitive we can be. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! l hope for the future that can be solved and also then I don’t think there is any reason to leave.”It was an intriguing, attention-grabbing admission at the time but doubly so after his contract extension — signed, of course, long before the interview — was confirmed.Verstappen has seen enough in Red Bull’s recent revival, and enough in their blueprints for the future, to believe he can fulfil his ambition of becoming the sport’s youngest-ever world champion with them.“What Max has seen this year is the strength in depth in the team, its ability to develop and ability to dig itself out of an issue where we started the year. Max Verstappen will remain with Red Bull Racing for at least the next three Formula 1 seasons after agreeing an extension to his current contract, announced on Friday.Verstappen, 20, was fast-tracked into F1 as a 17-year-old back in 2015 with Red Bull’s B-team, Toro Rosso, before moving up to its front-running operation at last year’s Spanish Grand Prix.Verstappen was victorious on debut for Red Bull, becoming the youngest grand prix winner in F1 history in the process, and has followed this up with a second win for the team in Malaysia at the start of this month.Known to be out of contract at the end of next year, speculation was already rife about Verstappen’s future given his ability and potential, only for Red Bull to end it early by surprising the F1 paddock with an announcement ahead of practice for the United States Grand Prix.“Red Bull has always shown their faith and belief in me with actions; inviting me in to the young driver programme as a 16-year-old, then giving me my start in Formula 1 when I was just 17, and then the opportunity to race with Red Bull Racing where I had such a dream start with this team,” Verstappen said.“They have always backed me and my ambition and I know we share that ambition. That would be the biggest thing,“But for sure the performance is the number one box to tick.”Of course there is still the possibility that next season Ricciardo and Red Bull string it all together and put forth a car that has him competing for the title deep into the season.“It’s exactly what we need to be doing and we’re doing it, so it’s all moving in the right direction. ... Up close and personal with Max Verstappen ... 21:23 21 Oct 2017. DANIEL Ricciardo has revealed his ambitions to shake-up the Formula 1 driving market and turn Mercedes back into a super team. It’s been a character-building year for him but he feels very comfortable in the environment and he’s enjoying racing within the team,” said team boss Christian Horner. RED BULL boss Christian Horner says the team wanted to end speculation linking Max Verstappen with an exit with his new contract.
“It tells me Ricciardo will be in a Mercedes in 2019,” concluded Brundle.Rumours have swirled throughout the summer that F1’s two superpowers had their chequebooks ready for a Verstappen bidding war.The fact Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen were only handed single-year deals was considered conclusive proof Mercedes and Ferrari were keeping their options just in case Verstappen became available.“Every team would be trying to sign Max Verstappen, because of his age, speed and the upside potential,” noted Brundle.But Vettel’s decision to sign an unexpectedly-long extension — running to the end of 2020 — presented a significant obstacle to the notion of Verstappen moving to Ferrari in the immediate future.Ferrari are, in the words of their former president Luca di Montezemolo, traditionally reluctant to put “two roosters in the same hen house”. “It’s very clear we want to do exactly the same with him.