Baku, August 20, AZERTAC Max Verstappen has ended speculation over his Formula 1 future by signing a contract extension with Red Bull through to 2030, according to ESPN.The four-time world champion had previously been on a contract through to 2028, but the presence of performance-based exit clauses in that deal had allowed rumours to spread about a possible departure.Verstappen was linked with multiple rival teams over the past 18 months and openly hinted at retiring from F1 earlier this year due to his dissatisfaction with the current generation of race car.Red Bull said on Thursday's announcement it was "immensely proud" to confirm Verstappen had pledged to stay with the team into the next decade.The extension will be a huge relief for Red Bull and Formula 1 itself after months of uncertainty about what Verstappen would do next. Verstappen has been the most vocal critic of F1's new electrified hybrid engines, calling the new cars "anti-racing" and likening them to Mario Kart.F1 boss Stefano Domenicali and Verstappen have spoken on numerous occasions about his criticisms of the new car -- Verstappen joked ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix that someone might "shoot" him if he kept complaining publicly about them and said ahead of the August break he was fed up of criticising the cars.But his frustrations have gone further than the new engines -- he had also voiced frustration at Red Bull's own performances this year.Verstappen finished second in the championship behind Lando Norris in 2025 but has so far failed to win a race this season.Despite that and despite reports linking him to Mercedes, Aston Martin and McLaren over the past year and a half, it had felt increasingly likely in recent months that a new deal was a matter of when and not if for Verstappen.Verstappen has won 71 races -- putting him third on the all-time winners' list -- and four world championships with the team.