Max Verstappen a Step Closer to 'Simple' Departure From Red Bull

Max Verstappen has moved a step closer to triggering a contract clause that would allow him to leave Red Bull after the 2026 season, as his deficit in the standings makes a top-two finish before the summer break virtually impossible. Following the Spanish Grand Prix, the four-time champion trails leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli by 101 points and sits 60 points behind second-placed Lewis Hamilton, with only four Grands Prix and one Sprint remaining before the Hungarian finale.

Why it matters:

The clause offers the most straightforward — though not guaranteed — path for Verstappen to end his Red Bull deal that runs through 2028. It gives him enormous leverage as the team struggles to produce a car capable of consistently fighting Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren, and his eventual call will heavily influence the 2027 driver market.

The details:

• Verstappen’s contract reportedly allows him to unilaterally terminate the agreement after 2026 if he sits outside the championship top two at the summer break. His current standing makes that threshold effectively unreachable.
• With just 108 points left to score before Hungary, he would need multiple wins and a series of major setbacks for Hamilton, George Russell, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, and Oscar Piastri to reach second place.
• Red Bull is preparing a significant upgrade for the Austrian Grand Prix focused on making the RB22 lighter. Still, Ferrari took a clear step forward in Barcelona, while Mercedes and McLaren are expected to bring further updates.
• The Red Bull-Ford power unit is also at a disadvantage. Despite possessing what data suggests is the strongest ICE on the grid, the overall package is reportedly unable to match the in-season development pace of its rivals, leaving Verstappen vulnerable on straights.

What's next:

Red Bull must prove it can reverse the slump immediately in Spielberg. If the Austrian package fails to fundamentally close the gap to the frontrunners, Verstappen’s route to activating his exit clause will become a formality before the summer break. He has already informed the parent company that he is not ready to commit beyond 2026, meaning Red Bull is facing the very real prospect of entering the 2027 driver market without its four-time champion.