Red Bull reportedly offer Max Verstappen five-year deal to stay until 2033

Red Bull raise the stakes in Verstappen contract battle

Red Bull are understood to have tabled a revised five-year contract offer to Max Verstappen as they attempt to secure the four-time champion’s future beyond 2026.

The proposed agreement would keep Verstappen at the team until 2033, according to journalist Ralf Bach. It represents a significant shift from the shorter-term options previously linked to Red Bull, underlining the team’s determination to prevent its lead driver from activating his exit clause and walking away from the project.

Verstappen is currently weighing his options for 2027, with that clause active until October. His frustration with the RB22 and the impact of the new regulations have left his future uncertain, although the latest developments point towards him remaining with Red Bull for at least another season.

The situation has also been shaped by the limited alternatives available. Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari are understood to have their driver line-ups locked in for 2027, making an immediate switch to one of those rivals difficult. Retirement, which Verstappen has threatened multiple times this season, remains another possibility.

Verstappen wants flexibility over his future

Red Bull’s latest proposal follows reports of an offer for a one-year extension, which would have taken Verstappen to 2029 while removing any reference to an exit clause. The team had also reportedly considered buying out the clause for a seven- or eight-figure fee.

Bach says Verstappen is not keen to surrender the clause. Speaking on the F1-Insider YouTube channel, he said: “Red Bull has made him an offer to stay on a long-term basis. I’ve heard it’s for five years with a lot of money. But he doesn’t want to give up that exit clause.”

Instead, Verstappen would reportedly prefer a one-year deal covering 2027. That would allow him to judge whether Red Bull’s successors to Adrian Newey can produce a car capable of winning races and fighting for the championship under the new regulations.

The decision would then be deferred until the end of 2027. If the car remains uncompetitive, Verstappen could reassess both his commitment to Formula 1 and his relationship with Red Bull. As Bach noted, openings at Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari could emerge later as contracts expire.

Red Bull’s position is strengthened by the close relationship between Verstappen and Laurent Mekies, who have been described as an “inseparable entity” in recent comments about the driver’s future. But Formula 1’s driver market can change quickly. For now, Verstappen appears likely to stay in 2027—while keeping the option to leave firmly within reach.