‘I don’t need to drive in another colour’ – Verstappen explains why he chose to stay with ‘family’ at Red Bull

Max Verstappen has shared an insight into the reasons why he chose to remain with the Red Bull team, with the Dutchman explaining that he does not feel the need to “drive in another colour”.

Despite previously holding a deal that kept him with the squad until the end of 2028, speculation has long persisted over whether Verstappen could opt to leave the Milton Keynes-based outfit for a rival team.

However, the rumours were brought to a halt on Thursday when it was announced that Verstappen had signed a contract extension with Red Bull that will see him race with them until the end of 2030.

During media day at the Dutch Grand Prix, the four-time World Champion spoke in more detail about why he decided to extend his time with the outfit, his belief in the people, and why the departure of some high-profile names has not changed his mind…

Goal of finishing F1 career with Red Bull

In his initial reflections on his new deal, Verstappen explained that his relationship with Team Principal Laurent Mekies – who took on the role midway through 2025 – had been “really good, very open and transparent” from the start, before adding that “it feels absolutely right to continue here”.

Having long been a part of the Red Bull family – making his F1 debut with the then-called Toro Rosso outfit in 2015 prior to joining the main Red Bull squad during 2016 – Verstappen also acknowledged a goal he had set out with the drinks company’s late founder Dietrich Mateschitz.

“I always said, and I said this when Dietrich was still alive, I said my goal and target is to finish my career in this team,” the Dutchman explained. “I think we are getting close to that. I mean, of course, there are still a lot of years ahead!

“But that's still the target, so that's why I'm very proud to extend, and of course try to get back to the top. We have tasted a lot being on top. That's why I think you are very hungry to try and get there again.”

Reflecting further on the possibility of completing his Formula 1 career with Red Bull, Verstappen added: “I like it here. I think it would be a great story if that would be possible like that, being picked up by Red Bull and finishing your career within one team.

“Because I don't feel the need to change just to change, and I don’t necessarily need to drive in another colour. My favourite colour is blue, so that helps! But, yeah, it would be, of course, an amazing story if that would happen."

Having belief that ‘we can get back to the top’

The 2026 season has featured some ups and downs so far for Red Bull, the team having yet to stand on the top step of the podium. However, Verstappen is confident that the championship-winning squad will find their way back.

“You need to feel good where you're at,” the 28-year-old explained. “If you are in the fastest car but you don't feel well, I don't think that's going to last very long. I feel very good in this team.

“I have the belief in the people, that we can get back to the top, and yeah, time will tell. I mean, that's what we are targeting. I still want to win races, I'm hungry to win more.”

Verstappen went on to praise the performance so far of the debut power unit produced by Red Bull Powertrains, but added that this is also an area where they will continue to push for more going forward.

“I think you've seen so far this year that the power unit has been quite strong, and we're very proud of what has been delivered, but you're never satisfied,” the Dutch driver said.

“You always want to be better, so that's always been the target also within the team. We always want to be better, it's never good enough, so that's also the target for the coming years.”

Red Bull ‘still my family’

Verstappen used the word “family” more than once when speaking to the media about his decision to remain at Red Bull, an element that he conceded had helped in the discussions over his future.

“The talks have been very good, between Oliver [Mintzlaff], with Laurent, the shareholders,” said Verstappen. “When you've been working together for a long time, you know each other quite well.

“That's why there was also no immediate rush, and that's why I also never really had anything to say [publicly], because it was just step-by-step, we were getting closer.

"And for me, I was never really stressed about it, so that's why for me, those questions before in the media, I say what I want to say otherwise I don't say anything, so it doesn't really change anything.

“But at least for the team also now we can just focus ahead on the years, and we can keep pushing together.”

A number of high-profile figures have departed Red Bull during recent years, including Christian Horner and Adrian Newey, while Verstappen’s long-time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase is set to leave to join McLaren in 2028.

Verstappen reiterated that this has not affected his close relationship with the team, explaining: “A few names have left, but at the same time, it’s still my family. I never felt that desire or need to change just to change, to another team, to try and win somewhere else.

“If I feel well within the team here, why should I? Because I know that they do everything for me, and they know that I do everything for them once I'm on the track and trying to get the results, so for me it does not feel like that, with some of the other drivers [who choose to change teams]. But yeah, I'm just happy to be here and continue to drive here.”

Verstappen also acknowledged that while some team members have left, “at the same time you're looking at new talent and bringing other people in, and that's what we're doing”.

“Time will tell how successful we will be, but that's the same for everyone because no one can promise that they are going to win next year or the year after,” he continued. “So I do have to believe that with the people here that we can, and now we just have to work for it.”