Max Verstappen's new Red Bull contract means that the World Championship-winning Dutchman will stay with his team, and in Formula 1, until at least 2028, a deal that is set to break records in the process.
Having first joined Red Bull as a junior driver back in 2014, the extension will take Verstappen's association with the team up to an 14 impressive years.
After just one year competing in Formula 3, Verstappen made the step up to Formula 1 with Toro Rosso in 2015, before joining the leading Red Bull team mid-way through the following season and winning his maiden race in Barcelona.
When his new contract comes to an end in 2028, no driver in Formula 1 history will have completed so many seasons and races for one team, shattering the current records set by Michael Schumacher.
Records on the horizon for loyal Verstappen
Schumacher spent 11 seasons as a Ferrari driver between 1996 and 2006, and competed in 181 races for the Scuderia.
For now, that record remains, but Lewis Hamilton is creeping ever closer to breaking them both.
The Briton is now starting his 10th season as a Mercedes driver, and will surpass Schumacher's 181-race total at this season's 2022 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
It will take him until 2024, however, to begin his 12th campaign with the German team - and his current contract only keeps him in Brackley until the end of 2023.
Drivers with most race starts for one F1 team
| Driver | Team (seasons) | Race starts |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Schumacher | Ferrari (11) | 181 |
| Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes (9) | 178 |
| Kimi Raikkonen | Ferrari (8) | 152 |
| David Coulthard | McLaren (9) | 150 |
| Felipe Massa | Ferrari (9) | 140 |
How far can Verstappen go?
At his current rate, and if Formula 1 persists with their 23-race calendar, Verstappen will end the 2028 season with 13 years of service to Red Bull and 256 race starts.
With his 23 race starts for sister team Toro Rosso factored in, Verstappen will then find himself on 279 race starts, putting him eighth in the all-time pecking order.
However, Verstappen will then be aged just 30 years old, with the potential still to improve as a Grand Prix driver. And history will tell the young Dutchman that both Schumacher and Hamilton won more F1 titles during their thirties than their twenties.
Drivers with most F1 race starts
| Driver | Race starts |
|---|---|
| Kimi Raikkonen | 353 |
| Fernando Alonso | 336 |
| Rubens Barrichello | 326 |
| Michael Schumacher | 306 |
| Jenson Button | 306 |
| Lewis Hamilton | 288 |
| Sebastian Vettel | 279 |
| Felipe Massa | 269 |
| Riccardo Patrese | 256 |
| Jarno Trulli | 252 |
Also interesting:
Video: Verstappen signs Red Bull contract extension until end of 2028
Max Verstappen and Christian Horner open up about Verstappen's new deal to stay with Red Bull until the end of 2028.
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