Motorsport: Verstappen extends Red Bull deal

Max Verstappen of the Netherlands during the Australian Grand Prix. Photo / Getty Images

Max Verstappen has signed a new contract with Red Bull which keeps him with the team until 2020.

The 20-year-old Dutchman, who became the youngest grand prix winner, with victory in Spain last season has endured a tough year but Red Bull say they are confident he can be a major success in the future.

"We are delighted that Max has agreed to extend his contract with Red Bull Racing," team boss Christian Horner said.

"We had a phenomenal start together in Spain last year and Max has only pushed on from there.

"It was a great moment for the whole team to see him put the frustrations of this season behind him in taking that fantastic victory in Malaysia last month."

Horner is also keen to lock-up Verstappen's Australian teammate Daniel Ricciardo until the end of the 2020 season.

Ricciardo's current deal expires at the end of 2018 but Horner said a fortnight ago that he is keen to keep the West Australian, who won in Azerbaijan this year, for a longer period.

"He's technically out of contract at the end of 2018 because he will have completed a five-year contract," Horner told motorsport.com of Ricciardo.

"But what is absolutely clear is that it's our intention to retain both of our drivers, I would say until 2020."

The news of Verstappen's signing comes on the heels of McLaren re-signing two- time champion Fernando Alonso for the 2018 season.