P1 with Matt and Tommy - Max Verstappen is STAYING at Red Bull

Episode Date: August 20, 2026

The F1 news keeps on coming! We hit the streets of Amsterdam to react to the news that Max Verstappen has signed a contract extension at Red Bull until 2030.We will not be going on tour next year! So if you want to come and see our brand new live show 'Super Podding' this autumn, get your tickets here: http:/tix.to/p1liveSign up to our Patreon for just $5 a month! You'll get access to every P1 episode ad-free, extended versions of every 2026 race review, early access to tickets & merch, and access to our Discord server where you can chat with us and other F1 fans! Click here to sign up now: http://patreon.com/mattp1tommyFollow us on socials! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, Twitch, YouTube and TikTokP1 with Matt and Tommy is the world's biggest F1 podcast. Subscribe for new podcasts around every single race throughout the 2026 Formula 1 season! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello everybody and welcome back to the B1 podcast with Matt and Tommy in the flesh, because why would there be news now when we've had three weeks of absolutely nothing going on in the summer break? Oh wait, enter Formula One, enter Max Verstapp and deciding that we're going to pop it in on a Thursday. Yeah, why not? Hey Tommy? Yeah, after a massive piece of news about his teammate, of course, having the injury, and then also the Williams drivers getting announced as well. Everything's just happened now, like, come on, guys. And if you want to play a game on YouTube where you can count the amount of weird looks we get throughout the episode,

we'd love to see in the comments how many you counted. That would be great. Right, let's get in some questions about the Max Verstappen signing, resigning, resigning, resigning, whatever you want to call it. Really enjoyed, by the way, the Red Bull joky little skit they did where it was like, Lauren Mecky. Yes, that was very clever. Resines? No, re-dash.

Very good. It's good. They basically very much just self-aware of the fact that people were saying Max is going to, like, retire and what's going to happen. the uncertainty, even though the weirdest thing about this is he did have a contract already, but as we know, they can be broken. But the reason he's announced something is the fact that it's extended. Extended. A lot of questions here. My big question to Tommy, is he finally going to shut up about the fact Max is going to retire soon? Because that's another four years,

2030, end of 2030. So we'll get into that. Let's start with the question from P1 Patreon member Bex P. Are you guys surprised at the news? If you've watched our 2027 driver lineup predictions, it's gone very, very badly for me. But that's because I lived and dreamed a world where chaos ensued once more. I looked to the Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari News and went, hey, let's have another one of those where the whole grid gets shaken up. That has not happened. If I'm putting my full-blown, realistic brain in gear, I'm not surprised

because we've spoken about his loyalty. We've spoken about the fact that, well, he's been. been with Red Bull since forever. And he has the flexibility of being able to drive whatever he wants, whenever he wants. And he's probably played McLaren and Mercedes Fiddles a little bit in order to add maybe an extra cup. Well, not an extra zero. That would be a lot of money.

But, you know, like a few more million to the contract. And probably less media days than things to his contract. But yeah, I am surprised. I am surprised by it because I didn't think, as you kind of talked about the start, that he was going to continue after 20, 28. He signed that contract with Red Bull. Surely you're relieved. You should be happy,

jumping to the Amsterdam skies right now. We said about the fact that Max Astappen, Formula One is a worst place without him because he's certainly a character who provides a lot of entertainment on track. And the thing that we've got here is Max actually continuing on, which is a great thing for Formula One

because we did worry about him leaving. I was very much convinced that he'd see out that contract until 28, which he signed back in 2022. I think it was after he won his first world title. And he'd basically just bounce because he's basically loyal to Red Bull. He'd stay, see out his contract and then go, actually, I don't really like these regulations. Off I go. So I'm surprised in that sense that he's committed a little bit longer.

Obviously, he's seen something in the fact that maybe he doesn't hate these cars as much as he thought. And there's a bit of positivity going forward. But yeah, I'm not surprised that he's going to stay. Red Bull colours. All right, next question. People on pitch remember Danico, does this debunk the saying that drivers like Max could move anywhere they want? Or is Red Bull truly Max's preference? I think it is Max's preference. At the end of the day, he could go to Mercedes if he wanted to. Toto's not shied away from the fact that he really wants Maxx's Stappen in his team. He's not hid it well. He's very outspoken about it and has been for a number of years.

I do genuinely just think this is Max has happened being loyal to Red Bull. He likes the atmosphere there. He's got a lot of perks there. You know, you see, I remember seeing something from David Coulthard, I think it was. He's a Red Bull ambassador. And he was saying, Max isn't leaving.

He's got everything he wants at Red Bull. He's got the flexibility, the freedom. And I genuinely think, and some people will think it's mad to say because the end of the day, he's like a competitive sportsman. But if you offered Max Verstappen, a chance of a couple of, like, not easy world titles, but better chance of world titles at Mercedes

versus the freedom at Red Bull, having already won championships of spending time with his family, being able to go do his GT3 racing, probably a lot less media days than he'd do at any other team. He's got it very cushy at Red Bull, and that whole team is built around him, and he gets everything he wants. So I genuinely believe that he probably,

prioritises that now more than going over and just getting more championships. I do genuinely believe him when he says, I've won four, what difference does it make winning five or six? He's also staying to the end of 2030, so probably does want more championships. But he does, but what I'm saying is like, he obviously believes a little bit in Red Bull, but I think a lot of this move is probably the fact that he's comfortable at Red Bull. He's said in his press release and step, it's a second family to him. And he doesn't, I think he genuinely enjoys that environment and gets to do what he wants

and everything like that. Yeah, because I mean, I guess if you put it in sort of simple terms, it's like anyone moving jobs. When you enjoy your job, maybe you've been offered a bit of a pay rise at the same job to stay there or go somewhere else. Well, you don't exactly know how you're going to feel when you're there. We kind of look at them as just drivers and teams and the fastest car, but there's so much more to consider, isn't there, when moving. And you just don't know how far this Mercedes dominance will go.

Red Bull. They've done incredibly well to develop an engine to the best internal combustion engine on the grid, obviously. But they've done a really good job in the early phases of this sort of engine development program. So perhaps there is some belief there as well. Yeah, there's an element to it. I do think the performance element, I would say, is the fact that had Red Bull been where they were in China, I don't think this is happening, you know, where their Max is going out in Q2 and they're not, they're looking like a midfield team and not even in that top bracket. We've now had a run where Max has been on the podium, three of the last four, and they're looking like they're building and getting a bit better. So I do think that that is an element to it. But I do generally think a lot of him just staying at Red Bull and not going off to like a Mercedes or anywhere else is that he's just super loyal to them. They've given him the opportunity to be in Formula One and they give him everything he wants for his job satisfaction. Yeah, I do wonder how knee-jerk it is from a Max Verstappen or any other driver's situation.

We look at it as a, he's had three podiums in the last four, so he's not going to Mercedes now. like is it really that small data set of races where he goes okay I'm going to stay now i'm just kidding the whole to to to to holiday thing that was a joke you know i'm going to stay at red bull like i don't personally see it as like that short cited for max because i think it's more down to the loyalty more down to the fact that he believes in the team in the future and whatnot rather than like a few good results and hey we're so back i think it's such an unknown this season anyway isn't it in terms of where it's going to go and McLaren going to be fastest and yeah it's uh it must be such a hard thing to actually make a decision over if he was genuinely considering leaving which we

don't know we don't know if he was actually considering leaving of course talks happen all the time in the paddock things are taking pictures of he's gone on holiday with Toto but he's known Toto for many many years anyway and it's not the first time we've seen yeah those McLaren rumours very interesting as well that the timing of them and now he signed a new contract with Red Bull there was a lot of talk anyway that those McLaren chats might be a way of him negotiating a better contract for himself with Red Bull. That's what you do, isn't it? Like you do it in any job. And many people, you know, have done that in their lives. It's kind of weird to compare Formula One to everyday life. But I think so much of it is that for Max Lestappen when you look at, you know, the lifestyle that

he's got at Red Bull and the enjoyment that he gets from, you know, being able to spend time with his family because he's not doing all these media commitments and being able to go off and do the racing that he does at the Nurebag ring because at the end of the day he could he could say to Red Bull tomorrow I want to do Lamont and they they bend over backwards to do it because he is just he is Red Bull because we've had this conversation before of like they've put all their eggs in match this happen's basket of like building this car around and building the whole team around him arguably firing I personally think this is the case, firing Christian Horner because of Max, because Max,

his family and stuff, didn't want him there, or if dad didn't want him there. So they've done everything to make sure Max stays. And there is that kind of scenario where if Max goes, what do Red Bull have left? Not a lot. It's kind of worrying. Yeah, nothing. So, yeah, I think part of that is that. He's almost got Red Bull in a stroke, in a chokehold, hasn't really? Yeah. He absolutely has them doing everything, which no other team would. Mercedes would go to a level but Mercedes would always be bigger than Max Verstappen, whereas I would argue Max for Stappen is perhaps even bigger than Red Bull. Well look at even Lewis Hamilton, they didn't, Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes-Toto didn't want to give them an additional contract. He went off and signed

to Ferrari. Exactly. They didn't want to give them more years. They're going to do it to Hamilton. They would do it to Vastappen as well probably. So, okay, next question. People on Patreon member, clam is magic. Does this contract signing mean Max genuinely believes in the Red Bull project and that they can once again become the dominant or top two constructor team in the near future? There has to be belief. Of course there is. You know, I sort of mentioned that Rebel have done really well with their engine program that they've taken in-house so far. Yes, they're not the best power unit.

I think it's very clear that that's not the case. But there's going to be many factors to signing a deal. What does the number look like? But also, he's not going to commit to a project that he doesn't think is going to take steps forward. And surely they will. You know, as I said, this very early stage development, it's all about the engine. It's all about the power unit. And I would say Red Bull do have a chance in the coming seasons to compete.

You know, Lauren Mecky's at the helm. He's put that team into, I would say, a much healthier environment, at least. You don't hear about the toxicity anymore. It seems like it's a lot happier from what you hear, sort of the murmurs around the paddock and whatnot. So, yeah, there has to be belief because Max is here to win. As much as you say, you know, he doesn't care about the championship, doesn't care about winning more championships. Not as much. Yeah, I'm not saying he doesn't want to win a championship.

Of course he would, but as much as the other stuff, like in terms of his lifestyle. Yeah, yeah. It does shift. Being a dad now and things like that. Yeah, 100%. I do believe him in that sense that, yeah, like he's obviously like won so much in the sport. I don't think it changes his legacy of winning a fifth over a fourth. But I'm sat here like, it may well be the best driver we've ever seen.

Go and get 10, mate. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, exactly, and that's what a lot of people will be saying, but at the end of the day, he's the one that makes the decision, and that's what he wants in life. But from the performance side, there's definitely some level of the belief in Red Bull, because I think had we been in this situation where,

like if Red Bull had built their new engine and whatever, and it becomes like an Aston Martin situation, then I think, you know, you really have to start questioning it because there's a level of performance there that he's now at least competing. They're good enough. They're good enough. And it gives you a bit of belief, doesn't it now? That, yeah, like, it is good enough that Red Bull are delivering enough for him that at the start of the season,

you know, are you probably more confident now that Max will win a race this year? Or certainly, they'll be more competitive next year and could potentially win races. compared to what we were like, yeah, like at the start of the season, when they were struggling to even make it into Q3. Okay, next one. People on pitch, remember, AMG Piper. Could this be the start of the dullest silly season for a while? We have all been so hyped, seemingly everyone is just signing new contracts at existing teams.

Yes, the dominoes. We were saying the dominoes are going to fall into the place. The dominoes have not even been taken out the box. No. And they've just remained. Bore. Yeah, 100%. Our biggest fears of the silly season was that you needed a big move from Maxis Stappen

that would shuffle anything. If that wasn't going to happen, which we did think was unlikely. The more likely scenario was Carlos Sainty, we'll talk about in a bit. And he's not moved either. He's signed a new contract with Williams. Albin signed a new contract. It really does feel like now, if I were predicting it again, we get everyone the same maybe other than Esteban O'Conn and someone new at Haas.

Everyone else, I think, it could be a situation where nothing changes, which is crazy when all these contracts, you know, we listed them off when we did that 2027 video of like, look at all these contracts that are out. I think everyone just waits that extra year or a little bit longer to see where the pecking order is because Formula One is changing all the time. Yeah, I mean, it's disappointing. Don't get me wrong. As a fan, you want to see driver changes because for me, one of the most exciting things is the teammate rivalry is seeing how they stack up against each other. Finally,

you know, you have the dream of equal cars and you finally have two drivers, have the same car, and you're like, who's better, who's going to be able to adapt to these new regs? And then when they change and you have new team teammate lineups, you go, oh, I can't wait to see how those two stack up. So that's where the disappointment lies for me. But yeah, it does seem like it's going to be potentially an Ocon change and that's it, which is what I thought might happen, but I hope to God it didn't, because you want to see the changes. But yeah, who knows?

Maybe next year, I don't know how many will be up. I know some, like Alex Albon, I think signed only a one year for next year from what I remember. Carlos is a multi-year, which I think is very interesting. Hence why I'm wearing the Williams jacket. I think, yeah, I think Carlos will speak about him now, is an interesting one because there's obviously Williams, a bit like

Max, have gone all in on letting him stay. It must be like a huge offer. By 30 million it's rumoured. Yeah, exactly. So like he's going to be one of the best paid drivers in one of the worst teams on the grid, but they need to keep him.

They've got him on board. And it was a massive scoop for for Williams to get him in the first place. And now there was all these rumours about him going elsewhere, the fact that he's locked in even further means that I think that the interest will be there when, say, like, a Holkenberg moves from Audi, if Carlos Sainz is now in this contract, and equally same with when Alonzo retires, those seats are free and it might not necessarily

be Carlos Sainz anymore if he's committing to this Williams project. So I'm surprised he committed that long to it. I'm not 30 million a year. My guy's locked in for life, generational wealth. Thank you very much. Now, I mean, obviously the money is an appealing thing. It's obviously confirmed, but that's what's sort of been thrown around. And I think it's testament to James Vowles a little bit and how he's been able to keep Carlos as well. So I think this was the one question mark we had when we were talking about James Vowls as a team principal. And I've been very much team, team Daddy Vals the entire time. And I said the one thing he has to do now, because you can't just make the car miraculously quicker overnight, but he has to try and keep his drivers.

both of them. Of course, Alex, I think, it's not had the best run of form over the last sort of 18 months. He's had periods. Don't get me wrong, but it's not been consistent. So the fact they've kept both the drivers, I think is really important for Williams. So then they can then build from there. And it's a big statement as well to put that amount of money down. As a team you would consider smaller on the grid, it means that they are, they're here to stay and they have lofty ambitions. So yeah, it's a great thing for Williams to have kept Carlos. Carlos now needs to be given a car that means he's not going to have a wandering eye to Audi or whatnot. Because I think Audi, obviously not this year, but Audi I'm certain will look to sign

a car loss signs or a multiple race winner at the minimum in the coming season or two when Holkenberg, I think inevitably moves on because that's the kind of, again, ambitions Audi have. They're not here to play around. They're here to win races and they need to sign the drivers that can match that. Yeah, I do. I do agree. If they move up, it depends where they are. the order if they can move up. I think it's maybe the reliability of Audi of course has been such a negative but I think the fact that they've come in and I didn't expect them to do much because they were Saabat and they're kind of going in building their own power unit and stuff. I think it was going to be very tricky for them so I think it's actually impressive where they

are in the pecking order and you think that they're only going to improve from there if they do break into the top four teams and make it the top five teams for example. yes, when Holkhamberg decides, whether Audi decide not to renew Holcombberg's contract or Holcomburg decides to retire, they will look for, you know, who's available. Is Oscar Piastri wanting to leave McLaren? Is George Russell wanting to leave Insadis? Someone like that. Yeah, fascinating.

And please do, because we want driver changes. Yeah, so what we're going to say right now is stay tuned for another year or two where hopefully we will react to some big news, big changes. It's not happening yet as much as we dreamed of it. But yeah, that is it. We are going to say goodbye from Amsterdam. A very on-the-fly recording. Literally the camera is sort of balanced on a wooden beam

and it looks really precarious. And if you've been living under a rock, we haven't gone to Amsterdam because Maxisapen has signed a new contract. We're doing a show here. Yes. No, Tommy didn't want to just come and breathe the Dutch air. We want this backdrop.

for our pods so badly. We are committed, but not that committed. Yeah, yeah. So yeah, thank you everybody. We will see you literally tomorrow where we will have our usual watchalongs. Hopefully you'll be home in time. If the flight doesn't get delayed.

So we can do all of our usual coverage. So yeah, look forward to that and we'll see you very soon. What's love? What's your final thoughts, Tommy? I forgot to say it. Final thoughts are, yeah, I'll say thank goodness Max is staying in Formula One because it's better for it. And what are you getting for lunch?

A mountain of street rockers. Bye. Bye. P1 is a stack production and part of the Acast's creator network.