Fans predict Verstappen exit as Red Bull struggles mount

A majority of F1 fans now believe Max Verstappen will leave Red Bull before the end of his contract, following the team's poor start to the 2026 season and the confirmed future departure of his long-time race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase. The Dutch driver's vocal frustration with the new regulations and Red Bull's lack of competitiveness have fueled speculation that he will activate performance clauses in his deal.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's potential departure would mark a seismic shift in F1's competitive order, ending the most dominant driver-team partnership of the modern era. His exit clause, tied directly to on-track performance, is now a tangible threat due to Red Bull's current sixth-place standing, putting immense pressure on the team to deliver a rapid car improvement.

The details:

• A fan poll reveals two-thirds believe Verstappen will activate an exit clause, leaving by the end of 2026 or 2027.
• Contract Clauses: His contract reportedly allows him to leave if he is outside the top two in the championship by the summer break in 2026, or if he is not leading the standings in 2027.
• Engineer Loyalty: Verstappen has publicly stated his working relationship is exclusive to Lambiase, saying, "I have said to him that I only work with him. As soon as he stops, I stop too." Lambiase's move to McLaren in 2028 adds a long-term complication.
• Regulation Frustration: The driver has been highly critical of the 2026 rules, calling them "Mario Kart" and a "joke," which contrasts sharply with his previous success under stable regulations.
• Performance Dive: Red Bull has only 16 points from three races, with Verstappen languishing in ninth place, a stark contrast to their championship-winning form from 2021-2024.

What's next:

The immediate pressure is on Red Bull to upgrade its car and climb the constructors' standings before the summer break to keep Verstappen's 2026 exit clause from becoming a reality. All eyes will be on the team's development race and whether they can convince their star driver that a competitive future is still possible in Milton Keynes.