Horner jubilant: 'It was inevitable that we would extend his contract'

Max Verstappen already reacted happily during the drivers' press conference to the new commitment from Newey, the man who gave the Dutchman a car with which he could become champion. "I mean, if you do really well, you want to try to keep that whole group together and that's obviously also the goal for the team for the future," Verstappen said.

Great for longer term

A day later, Horner also addressed the new contract. "Adrian and I have been sitting next to each other for 18 years now," he told Sky Sports. "It was inevitable that we would extend that. He is a great part of the team, it is great to have him with us. The team continues to evolve, we have strength in depth but to have Adrian for the longer term with us is fantastic for everyone within the team."

At the same time, Horner would not go so far as to say that Newey's staying on is crucial for Red Bull's future. "The team is not about one person but he is a key player within our organisation. He enjoys our environment, he enjoys working with young talented engineers. We have some incredible talent we are nurturing and developing. That stimulates him, he is 64 years young and just as motivated as ever."