Max Verstappen makes huge retirement claim hours after signing new Red Bull contract

Max Verstappen has revealed how close he came to retiring before he signed a new contract with Red Bull.

Throughout the first half of the campaign, Verstappen's future in the sport was questioned altogether after growing frustrated with the new power units and regulations.

Verstappen even considered retiring from the sport, with his frustrations reaching boiling point after crashing out at the Japanese Grand Prix in March.

"Is it worth it?" the Red Bull star pondered out loud three races into the F1 season. "Or do I enjoy being more at home with my family? Seeing my friends more when you're not enjoying your sport?"

The four-time world champion was also left frustrated with Red Bull's rear wing problems, which caused him to crash during qualifying at the Austrian Grand Prix and later at the British Grand Prix.

Unsurprisingly, these moments fuelled speculation over his future at Red Bull, resulting in links to rivals McLaren and Mercedes in a potential huge driver shake-up.

But those rumours of him departing were put to bed on Thursday when he put pen to paper on a new deal.

Verstappen's previous contract was set to expire in 2028 and included a clause that allowed him to leave at the end of the F1 season.

The Dutchman's new agreement sees him contracted to Red Bull until 2030, and the announcement arrived days before his final home race in Zandvoort, when the Dutch Grand Prix takes place for the last time.

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"Four more years of full send. We’re delighted to announce that Max has signed a contract extension with the Team until the end of 2030," Red Bull wrote on X.

Max Verstappen was 'close' to retiring before signing Red Bull contract

Verstappen is one of the most successful drivers on the grid, currently boasting four world championships, while amassing 71 race wins, 37 fastest laps, and 131 podiums in F1.

The 28-year-old is now ready to continue carving his legacy with Red Bull for the next four years after admitting he was "closer" to retiring than changing teams.

"I think I was closer to retiring than changing teams, but all good," Verstappen told reporters with a chuckle on Thursday.

Currently sitting sixth in the drivers' championship before the action resumes after the summer break, Verstappen needs a miracle to claw back a whopping 110-point deficit to Kimi Antonelli as he chases down a fifth championship.

Perhaps accepting that 2026 isn't his year, the Dutchman is instead focused on dragging his team back to the top, while acknowledging that Red Bull allows him to explore his passions outside of the F1 circus.

"First of all, you need to feel good where you’re at. Doesn’t even matter if you’re this year in the fastest car, but you don’t feel well, I don’t think that’s going to last very long,” he said.

“So, I feel very good in this team. I have the belief in the people that we can get back to the top. Time will tell. I mean, that’s what we are targeting.

“I still want to win races. I’m hungry to win more."

“Plus, of course, Red Bull allows me to do things also a little bit outside of Formula 1. So it’s like a big plus, all of it, the whole package, which I’m of course very grateful for."

Verstappen heads into the Dutch Grand Prix looking for a fourth victory at Zandvoort.