Schumacher says Verstappen deal brought calm inside Red Bull

Ralf Schumacher believes Max Verstappen’s decision to stay at Red Bull through 2030 did more than settle his future: in Schumacher’s view, it brought calm and motivation inside the organisation and would encourage staff to work harder.

Speaking on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast, Schumacher said the extension sent a strong signal. He recalled a period when there had been a real possibility that Red Bull might fall apart, and said engineers already in the pipeline could draw confidence from Verstappen’s decision.

Red Bull was already on an upswing when the extension was announced on 20 August, and its progress continued afterwards.

Schumacher also praised technical director Pierre Waché for Red Bull’s turnaround. Early in the 2026 season, the RB22 had major balance problems and a rear end that was difficult to predict; Verstappen and Isack Hadjar regularly found the car unsettled, and Waché faced criticism. Schumacher said the rear-end issue now seemed solved.

Verstappen’s win at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia was Red Bull’s first of the season. Schumacher said the victory would give the team another lift.