Max Verstappen Can Trigger Red Bull Exit Clause

Max Verstappen can now formally trigger an exit clause in his contract to potentially leave Red Bull for the 2027 F1 season.

The situation follows Verstappen’s DNF at the British Grand Prix, which left him on 76 points in the drivers’ championship. RacingNews365 understands that his deal contains a clause allowing him to trigger an exit for 2027 if he is not inside the top two in the standings by the summer break after the Hungarian GP.

With two races remaining before that break, Verstappen can reach a maximum of 126 points. George Russell, who currently sits second, already has 154 points, while Lewis Hamilton is third on 147.

Read AlsoToto Wolff Calls Mercedes Result Bittersweet

That calculation means the highest Verstappen can be placed by the summer break is fourth. It potentially opens the route for the exit clause to become active, although the final direction still depends on Verstappen’s decision and the competitive trajectory of Red Bull.

Both Red Bull and Verstappen are said to be keen to continue together. Laurent Mekies has also stated that the best way to keep Verstappen is to provide him with a competitive car and attract top engineering talent to the team.

However, Verstappen has not firmly declared that he will stay. At the same time, realistic options elsewhere on the grid appear limited, with the only major race-seat routes logically pointing to Mercedes, Ferrari or McLaren.

Talks were reportedly initiated by the Verstappen camp with McLaren last week, but CEO Zak Brown has been firm that Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will not leave. Ferrari also appears increasingly closed off after Charles Leclerc signed a new deal, while Hamilton has signalled his intention to stay.

That leaves Mercedes as the option most frequently associated with Verstappen, especially as the team has openly courted him in the past. However, Kimi Antonelli’s success and George Russell’s new contract covering 2027 make a move from Milton Keynes to Brackley appear increasingly difficult.

Verstappen’s exit clause is now a major storyline heading towards the summer break, but the rider market does not automatically create a simple route away. If Red Bull wants to reduce speculation, car performance and technical stability will be decisive across the next two races.