|
The announcement on Tuesday leaves two of the
top three teams with young driver talent secure for the
long-term, with Ferrari announcing in December that Charles
Leclerc was staying to 2024.
"I am really happy to have extended my partnership with the
team. Red Bull believed in me and gave me the opportunity to
start in Formula One which I have always been very grateful
for," Verstappen, 22, said in a statement.
"Over the years I have grown closer and closer with the team and
besides the passion from everyone and the on-track performance
it is also really enjoyable to work with such a great group of
people.
"Honda coming onboard and the progress we have made over the
last 12 months gives me even more motivation and the belief that
we can win together...I want to win with Red Bull and our goal
is of course to fight for a World Championship together."
Red Bull finished third last year in the first season of a new
partnership with Honda, which proved an immediate success after
the Japanese manufacturer's failed relationship with McLaren.
Verstappen was best of the rest behind Mercedes drivers Lewis
Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.
The rumor mill will now focus more on six-times world champion
Hamilton, who is out of contract at the end of this year, and
the future of Leclerc's four-times champion team mate Sebastian
Vettel.
Verstappen won three races in 2019, and now has a career total
of eight F1 victories, and is seen as a champion-in-waiting.
The Dutchman, who in 2016 became the youngest ever race winner
in the sport's history, had been linked to both Ferrari and
Mercedes in paddock speculation.
He may have damaged his Ferrari chances, however, by accusing
the Italian team of cheating with their engine last season --
comments that went down badly at Maranello.
Mercedes, who also have Bottas out of contract at the end of
2020, are waiting on Hamilton -- who turned 35 on Tuesday and
has had talks with Ferrari chairman John Elkann -- to decide his
next step.
Formula One is about to enter a new era in 2021 with sweeping
rule changes and what owners Liberty Media hope will be a more
level playing field.
"With the challenge of the 2021 regulation changes on the
horizon continuity in as many areas as possible is key,"
commented team principal Christian Horner.
"Max has proven what an asset he is to the team, he truly
believes in the partnership we have forged with our engine
supplier Honda, and we are delighted to have extended our
relationship with him."
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin; Editing by Alison Williams and
Pritha Sarkar)
[© 2020 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2020 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
 |
|
