F1 | Marko reveals: “It was Verstappen who asked us for the contract extension”

Has been Max Verstappen a to ask to the Red Bull extends its contract until 2020: the team boss himself confirmed it Helmut Marko. And the latter also confirmed that the speed with which the agreement was signed was motivated by the continuations uncertainties on future di Daniel Ricciardo, current teammate of the Dutchman.

The contract between the Australian and the Red Bull expires at the end of 2018 and Marko also made it clear in the contract Verstappen (expiring previously in 2019) had a clause such that he could have been released at the very end of next season: “Max and Ricciardo could have been free after 2018,” Marko told Sky Sports F1. "We tried to secure at least one pilot and Max asked if he could stay with us until 2020. Ricciardo is on the market, but we are now talking to him“, Helmut Marko immediately revealed, explaining some important details behind the negotiation.

This shows how much “Max trust me” about Red Bull and the work he can do with him. When the contract ends in 2020 the Dutchman will be 23 years old and will be perfectly free, mature and at the perfect age for the big leap in his career. “I believe in the team, we'll see what happens,” Max commented.

Marko told Sky Sports that their aim was to make Verstappen “the youngest world champion” but Ricciardo said he never saw signs of any favoritism in the team: “There has always been equality. As far as I'm concerned, these are things for the media, but nothing real in the team. I'm not worried,” he commented.

Fabiola Granier