Max Verstappen is heading into a new season with Red Bull. Although the four-time champion was heavily linked to a move to Mercedes last year, he stayed loyal to the team he has raced for for more than ten years. Still, the new regulations and lingering uncertainty around the new engine partnership with Ford leave questions over Verstappen’s future. Reportedly, it has also become easier than ever for the Dutchman to walk away.
According to German paper Bild, the departure of Red Bull senior adviser Helmut Marko has made it considerably easier for Max Verstappen to exit. The outlet says it obtained that information from negotiated clauses in his contract. Verstappen has previously indicated his future at Red Bull was closely tied to Marko’s, particularly during the internal tensions around Christian Horner and the company’s top management.
Questions over competitiveness
The upcoming Formula 1 season will have to show whether Red Bull — and the new Ford power unit — will be competitive. If they are not, options for Verstappen to leave could materialize. If he is not in the top two of the championship by the summer break in July, he can terminate the partnership at the end of the year, Bild reports. Next year he would also reportedly have carte blanche; if he is not leading the standings then, he would be free to negotiate with other teams.
For now Verstappen remains committed to Red Bull and professes his loyalty to the team. His current contract runs through the end of 2028. Should the Austrian outfit lose significant competitiveness in the new Formula 1 era, however, it is not inconceivable he would still depart. Moreover, virtually every team has more or less confirmed they would roll out the red carpet for the Dutchman.
