Red Bull has reportedly offered Max Verstappen a contract extension until the end of 2029 as the team attempts to prevent its leading driver from leaving. According to German publication Bild, the proposal includes an increase on the Dutchman’s estimated annual salary of $65 million, excluding bonuses, but would require him to surrender his exit clause.
Max Verstappen and his representatives are believed to be considering the offer without rushing into a decision. Although the four-time Formula 1 World Champion is reportedly willing to remain with Red Bull, his commitment depends on the team providing him with a car capable of fighting for victories.
Red Bull offers Max Verstappen a contract extension to 2029
Only recently, the paths of Max Verstappen and Red Bull appeared destined to separate after the Silverstone weekend. Whether because of a genuine rapprochement or a lack of convincing alternatives for both sides, however, their partnership could now continue.
Max Verstappen’s current Red Bull contract runs until the end of 2028, but it contains known performance-related exit clauses that could allow him to leave at the end of this season. The Dutchman’s future therefore remains one of the most consequential questions surrounding Red Bull as Formula 1 progresses through the 2026 campaign.
Several weeks ago, it emerged that Red Bull intended to buy out Max Verstappen’s exit clause by compensating him for agreeing to abandon it. Bild has now reported a further development: the Milton Keynes team has offered its number three driver an extension that would move the expiry date of his contract to the end of 2029.
Under the reported proposal, Max Verstappen would receive an increase on his current salary, estimated at approximately $65 million per year before bonuses. In exchange, he would have to relinquish the exit clause that currently gives him the possibility of leaving Red Bull early.
Max Verstappen in no hurry to decide his 2027 future
According to Bild, Max Verstappen and his entire management team are evaluating the offer, but they do not intend to make a hurried decision. The Hasselt-born champion is prepared to use all the time available to him before deciding where his future lies in 2027.
His manager, Raymond Vermeulen, recently underlined the importance of Red Bull remaining competitive if Max Verstappen is to stay for the long term.
“We have a contract until 2028. Of course, there are termination clauses; there always have been. But we have never exercised any of them. Quite the opposite. We have always been loyal and we will remain so,” Raymond Vermeulen told Bild.
“We want to continue our journey with Red Bull, and Max wants to finish his career here, but obviously with the possibility of winning.”
That condition places pressure on Red Bull to demonstrate meaningful progress. The team recently faced public criticism from Isack Hadjar after making no progress at the Hungarian Grand Prix, further highlighting the competitive challenges facing its driver line-up.
Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren options appear limited
Max Verstappen does not currently have many obvious alternatives. One possibility would be to leave Formula 1, either temporarily or permanently, while his chances of remaining in the championship with another leading team appear limited.
The doors at Mercedes and Ferrari currently seem closed. A potential opportunity at McLaren would depend on how the relationship between the team and Oscar Piastri develops, leaving Max Verstappen without a clear destination elsewhere on the grid.
His championship position may also influence the final decision, with the latest picture available in the 2026 Formula 1 driver standings.
October deadline could leave Red Bull with little time
The situation could remain unresolved until at least October, when Max Verstappen’s opportunity to activate the exit clause is expected to expire. Such a late decision would create a major problem for Red Bull because the team would have very little time to establish an alternative plan if its four-time World Champion chose to leave.
Red Bull would not only need to replace its leading driver but also identify the person capable of assuming a central role in the team’s future. Isack Hadjar is among the drivers whose potential to become Red Bull’s next team leader has already attracted attention.
For that reason, Mark Mateschitz and Oliver Mintzlaff hope to persuade Max Verstappen to accept the new proposal and extend his commitment through 2029. For now, however, the Dutchman appears determined to evaluate Red Bull’s competitiveness before making one of the most important decisions of his Formula 1 career.
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