The clause that could shake up Max Verstappen’s future at Red Bull

Despite recent improvements at Red Bull, Helmut Marko has raised a clause that could facilitate Max Verstappen’s departure from the Austrian team.

When a hegemony ends, fire in the lake spreads with lightning speed. For several months, Red Bull has been experiencing difficult times in F1. After a great start to the season, the performance of the RB-21 was much less satisfactory, and McLaren took the opportunity to take the lead in the constructors’ standings. For his part, Max Verstappen is staying the course in the drivers’ standings, but could find himself under threat from Lando Norris ready to dethrone him.

Max Verstappen gets frustrated

In this context, a ray of sunshine appeared following a decent Singapore Grand Prix, and the improvements planned for the resumption at the Grand Prix of the Americas bring new perspectives for the end of the season. If this seems sufficient to ensure the quest for a fourth world champion title for Max Verstappen, the horizon is however more shadowy for the coming years.

The prospects for the Austrian team are unclear, and the Dutch driver seems more and more tired as the weeks go by. It must be said that between the internal bickering, the departures of several big names, including Adrian Newey at Aston Martin, and overall performances in a drastic decline, the Dutchman has reason to fume. To the point of abandoning Red Bull before the end of its contract, which extends until 2027?

Helmut Marko : “Max could consider leaving”

According to Helmut Marko, historic figure at Red Bull, the answer is yes. For the German media Sport.de, the latter mentioned this possibility:

“Most top drivers have exit clauses relating to performance. Max has one too. This means that if we can’t get him a car capable of playing a leading role, this would be something he might consider. […] When Max is in the car, he wants to win. But the environment has to be good.”

Thus, Red Bull could lose its flagship driver at the end of next season if the car does not meet expectations. The risk is major, and the pressure is strong on the shoulders of engineers. On the lookout, Mercedes and Aston Martin are watching the situation from afar, and would be credible options to offer a competitive seat to the three-time world champion. The next few months therefore promise to be decisive in many ways for the Red Bull structure.