Max Verstappen was pressured to reveal details of his new contract with Red Bull Racing, but he preferred to remain silent. During the press conference in the Netherlands on Thursday (20), Sergio Perez took advantage of the situation to tease the four-time Formula 1 world champion about possible exit clauses.
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The new agreement extended Verstappen’s previous contract by two years, which was set to end in 2028, keeping the driver at Red Bull Racing until the end of 2030, if the contract is fully honored. The renewal ended speculation about a possible team change and also left open the possibility of the Dutchman continuing in Formula 1 beyond that period.
When specifically asked about the existence of clauses that could allow an early exit, Verstappen refused to provide information: “I have never disclosed anything about my contract, so that remains the same,” said the Dutch driver, maintaining the same stance he had previously taken about his agreements.
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It was at this moment that Perez, Verstappen’s former teammate at Red Bull, joined the conversation and asked the Dutchman to reveal the details. The intervention caused laughter among the journalists present and also from Verstappen himself, who responded in a relaxed manner that he would tell everything to the Mexican later at dinner, or as soon as he had the opportunity.
Red Bull, therefore, keeps the specific terms of the new contract confidential, while Verstappen only publicly confirmed his stay with the team until 2030. The Dutch driver also indicated that he intends to end his career with the team and that factors such as a possible return of V8 engines could influence his plans beyond the current contract.
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