Max Verstappen says it was an "easy decision" to sign a new long-term deal with Red Bull until the end of 2028.
The Dutchman declared he wanted to stay with the Milton Keynes-based team "for the rest of my life" after securing his maiden Formula 1 championship last year in Abu Dhabi.
And on Thursday, he took a step towards doing just that as the five-year extension to his previous contract would take him to the age of 31.
“I really enjoy being part of the Red Bull Racing team, so choosing to stay to the 2028 season was an easy decision," Verstappen commented.
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“I love this team and last year was simply incredible, our goal since we came together in 2016 was to win the championship and we have done that.”
Red Bull boss Christian Horner also believed the agreement proved both team and driver wanted to build on their success in 2021.
“To have Max signed with Red Bull Racing through to the end of 2028 is a real statement of intent," he declared.
“Our immediate focus is on retaining Max’s world championship title but this deal also shows he is a part of the team’s long-term planning.”
But while he might have signed on the dotted line, Horner believes the relationship Red Bull has with Verstappen is worth more than a contract
“Relationships, I think, are not about contracts, it’s exactly about relationships,” he said via SpeedCafe earlier this year.
“And Max, he came into the team as almost a boy and he’s grown into a young man, and he’s grown with the team.
“I think the relationship we share, the trust we share in each other, is worth more than any piece of paper.
“I look forward to racing with Max for many years to come and I believe the best years are very much still to come.”
Even so, the day before the announcement, Dutch media reported Verstappen's new contract would be worth over $50m per year, putting him on a similar salary to Lewis Hamilton.
And should Max see out his new contract it would see him spend almost 13 seasons at Red Bull after first joining at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix.
That would comfortably surpass the current record for the most races for a driver at one team held by Michael Schumacher at Ferrari with 179, although Lewis Hamilton will beat that first with Mercedes as he has 178 starts prior to this season.
