What date does the early exit clause activate in Max Verstappen’s Red Bull F1 contract and when does it expire?
Max Verstappen has become synonymous with Red Bull, but the iconic pairing could come to an end. This is because despite signing a contract until 2028, there is an early exit clause for the driver. Verstappen is one of Red Bull’s greatest drivers, but the future is unclearGetty And a few a more details regarding the clause are starting to emerge, and with Red Bull struggling so far in 2025, it’s possible that he could leave. Here, talkSPORT.com investigates Verstappen’s contract. When does Max Verstappen’s exit clause activate? Verstappen is allowed to trigger the clause if he is lower than third in the Drivers’ Championship after a significant chunk of the season, according to reports. Red Bull’s Helmut Marko has revealed that Verstappen could leave as early as this summer. The F1 season stops in August for three weekends, and it is at this point that the clause becomes an issue for Red Bull. Speaking to Formul1.de, Marko confirmed the concern around the exit clause. He said: “Upgrades are needed for Max to win his fifth world title. That is our big goal and the whole team is working hard on it. “Of course, every top driver has an exit clause if performance is not good. But they are all tuned differently. “That is not a topic at the moment.” Marko has revealed when Verstappen could leave Red BullGetty When asked if the clause activated in the summer, he said: “Yes, that’s the time window. “But please, we are third in the Drivers’ Championship with a deficit of eight points. The summer break is still a long way off.” When does Verstappen’s exit clause expire? As it stands, it is unclear when the exit clause expires. This is because it is performance-related, meaning it depends on how Verstappen and Red Bull are performing. If he is third or higher, the clause won’t be active. But even with the clause, Verstappen isn’t worried about his future. Speaking ahead of the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, he said: “A lot of people are talking about it [my future] except me. “Like I said before, I just want to focus on my car, work with the people in the team — that is the only thing I am thinking about in Formula 1 at the moment. I am very relaxed.” In terms of where he could go, La Gazzetta dello Sport claim Aston Martin are one of the favourites to get Verstappen should he leave Red Bull. They claim Adrian Newey being there is a big factor, while we know Mercedes are also interested. Totto Wolff is a huge admirer of Verstappen and reports have suggested he’s met with the Dutchman’s dad to discuss a deal. Of course, all of this would be moot if Verstappen performs well or decides he still sees a future with Red Bull. But with the presence of an exit clause, the pressure is on Christian Horner and co to turn things around.
Max Verstappen has become synonymous with Red Bull, but the iconic pairing could come to an end.
This is because despite signing a contract until 2028, there is an early exit clause for the driver.
And a few a more details regarding the clause are starting to emerge, and with Red Bull struggling so far in 2025, it’s possible that he could leave.
Here, talkSPORT.com investigates Verstappen’s contract.
When does Max Verstappen’s exit clause activate?
Verstappen is allowed to trigger the clause if he is lower than third in the Drivers’ Championship after a significant chunk of the season, according to reports.
Red Bull’s Helmut Marko has revealed that Verstappen could leave as early as this summer.
The F1 season stops in August for three weekends, and it is at this point that the clause becomes an issue for Red Bull.
Speaking to Formul1.de, Marko confirmed the concern around the exit clause.
He said: “Upgrades are needed for Max to win his fifth world title. That is our big goal and the whole team is working hard on it.
“Of course, every top driver has an exit clause if performance is not good. But they are all tuned differently.
“That is not a topic at the moment.”
When asked if the clause activated in the summer, he said: “Yes, that’s the time window.
“But please, we are third in the Drivers’ Championship with a deficit of eight points. The summer break is still a long way off.”
When does Verstappen’s exit clause expire?
As it stands, it is unclear when the exit clause expires.
This is because it is performance-related, meaning it depends on how Verstappen and Red Bull are performing.
If he is third or higher, the clause won’t be active.
But even with the clause, Verstappen isn’t worried about his future.
Speaking ahead of the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, he said: “A lot of people are talking about it [my future] except me.
“Like I said before, I just want to focus on my car, work with the people in the team — that is the only thing I am thinking about in Formula 1 at the moment. I am very relaxed.”
In terms of where he could go, La Gazzetta dello Sport claim Aston Martin are one of the favourites to get Verstappen should he leave Red Bull.
They claim Adrian Newey being there is a big factor, while we know Mercedes are also interested.
Totto Wolff is a huge admirer of Verstappen and reports have suggested he’s met with the Dutchman’s dad to discuss a deal.
Of course, all of this would be moot if Verstappen performs well or decides he still sees a future with Red Bull.
But with the presence of an exit clause, the pressure is on Christian Horner and co to turn things around.
