Racing Bulls CEO explains why Verstappen’s Red Bull renewal is ‘great news’ for F1

While Red Bull has already taken an important step towards 2027 by securing the most talked-about driver on the market, the Faenza-based team has yet to make a final decision on its own line-up, despite both drivers enjoying an excellent season so far.

Speaking during the team principals' press conference in Zandvoort, Bayer welcomed the news of Verstappen's renewal, highlighting the stability it brings to the Red Bull system. He also stressed that Racing Bulls are in no rush to make decisions over their own driver line-up, with the team satisfied with the performances of Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad and also able to rely on a strong pool of talent from the junior programme.

Hamilton believes staying in a familiar and comfortable environment is often the easiest option rather than attempting to win championships with different teams, as he did with McLaren and Mercedes. His comments came after Max Verstappen committed his future to Red Bull until the end of 2030, a decision Hamilton sees as entirely understandable.

When GPblog asked the Ferrari driver in Zandvoort whether Verstappen's contract extension had surprised him, Hamilton admitted he had not given the matter much thought. He was similarly brief when questioned about the importance of Verstappen remaining in Formula 1, making it clear that he considered the Dutchman's continued presence in the championship important.

Hamilton was more expansive when asked whether a truly great driver needs to win a title with more than one team. The seven-time world champion does not believe doing so necessarily makes a significant difference, pointing out that Verstappen is already part of a great team where he has spent a considerable amount of time and enjoyed sustained success.

The Briton also highlighted how changing teams can produce very different outcomes. While some drivers have moved around extensively during their careers, such decisions can work out well or prove unsuccessful. In Hamilton's view, remaining somewhere a driver already feels comfortable is generally the easier route, although he stressed that Verstappen's decision to stay with Red Bull is a perfectly valid one.