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4) Max Verstappen extends his contract at Red Bull
Just hours before the first free practise got underway, Red Bull Racing had announced Max Verstappen had signed an extension to his contract which should see the Dutchman stay with the team until at least 2020.
May not be the biggest or most shocking news ahead of the US Grand Prix but the 20-year-old has clearly impressed the bosses at Red Bull after recently winning his second race in Malaysia.
Team Principal Christian Horner shared with Sky Sports on Friday their intentions to keep Verstappen Red Bull was crucial in the team's bid to be back at contending races and championships alongside Daniel Ricciardo.
Horner said: "As we now look to the long term with Max he is in the best place in the sport to build a team around him to deliver our shared ambition."
This season has seen Red Bull as the third best team on the grid with Mercedes and Ferrari ahead of them and the relationship between Verstappen and Ricciardo have seen them as good friends on and off the track and potentially the best partnership out of the ten teams.
But if Red Bull were to go up a step and compete for championships next season then the Dutchman and the Australian's friendship may just be put aside.
