ZANDVOORT, Netherlands — Max Verstappen light-heartedly compared his long-term commitment to Red Bull Racing to a marriage during Thursday’s media session ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, just hours after announcing a contract extension that keeps him with the team until the end of 2030.
The four-time Formula 1 world champion, who joined Red Bull in 2016, would reach 15 seasons with the squad by the end of the new deal. When a journalist noted that such longevity exceeds many marriages and asked for the “secret ingredients,” Verstappen smiled and replied that the relationship feels “like a marriage.”
“Practising for my own marriage, just seeing how long I can eke that out in racing terms and then try and triple that, at least, in marriage,” he said.
He added that the partnership remains on the right path: “I always said already back in the day when Dietrich [Mateschitz] was still alive, I said to him, ‘My goal and target would be, of course, to race for Red Bull forever.’ So we’re on the good way.”
The comments came as Verstappen ended months of speculation about his future. Despite a challenging start to the 2026 season under new regulations and links to other teams, the Dutchman stressed he was “closer to retiring than changing teams” and described Red Bull as a “second family.”
Verstappen, 28, is not married but has been with partner Kelly Piquet for several years. The couple welcomed their daughter Lily in 2025.
The extension was announced on the eve of what is scheduled to be the final Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort. Verstappen said making the announcement at his home race felt special and reiterated his desire to help return the team to the front of the grid.
Official Formula 1 account footage of the exchange quickly circulated, capturing Verstappen’s relaxed delivery and intercutting with smiling Red Bull team members.
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