From Germany: Verstappen can leave Red Bull if he is not at least 2nd at the summer break

A complex contract In the agreement that binds Max Verstappen to Red Bull until the 2028 season there are various clauses, some renegotiated over the years such as the one – eliminated in 2024 – which gave the driver the possibility of exit in the event of farewell of his mentor Helmut Marko.
The Dutch champion admitted last year that he had held some discussions with Mercedes’ Toto Wolff to evaluate a possible team change, but that he ultimately decided to stay. A sign that last year too some clause could have been triggered that would have allowed him to leave Red Bull. The clauses for 2026 and 2027 In the last few hours the Germans from Bild have revealed the stakes present in the contract between Verstappen and Red Bull for the next two seasons.
In 2026 Verstappen will be able to unilaterally terminate the agreement if he is not at least in second place in the drivers’ world championship at the summer break at the end of July. That is to say after the Hungarian Grand Prix, race number 13 of the championship. The exit clause for the 2027 season is even simpler: Verstappen will be able to say goodbye to Red Bull at the end of the championship if he is not leading the drivers’ championship at the summer break. All these clauses were negotiated at the time of the renewal at the beginning of 2022, negotiations managed independently by Helmut Marko and which left Christian Horner in the dark about the details.