Damon Hill was a guest on the Chequered Flag podcast after the Miami Grand Prix. In addition to commenting on the race, the former driver reflected on the future of four-time world champion Max Verstappen. Hill suggested that Max Verstappen should make a very important decision with a view to 2026. Here’s what it’s about.
Max Verstappen has a contract with Red Bull until 2028, but his name has often been linked with other teams. Chief among them is Aston Martin, which, at least on paper, appeared to be a strong candidate to secure the reigning world champion following the arrival of Adrian Newey. However, both Helmut Marko and Christian Horner have repeatedly denied these rumors, reaffirming their intention to stick to the contract. Still, it’s no secret that there is a release clause in Max Verstappen’s contract.
The clause
Commenting on Verstappen’s current situation with Red Bull, Damon Hill referenced the exit clause during the Chequered Flag podcast:
“I mean, Red Bull is fighting to keep Max Verstappen. I mean, there’s a clause in the contract. It’s been explained fairly clearly that there is a performance clause, and if they don’t meet the performance clause—and let’s be honest, he’s not giving anything less than 100%…”
Red Bull’s performance this season will be crucial in shaping Max Verstappen’s future. The former F1 driver added:
“If they don’t give him 100%, then he’s free to go wherever he wants. So Red Bull is under pressure. Where could he go? I don’t know. George [Russell] is said to be close to re-signing with Mercedes, and then everything’s locked. I don’t know.”
The advice
Since the regulations will change in 2026, Damon Hill suggests Max Verstappen consider taking a sabbatical year:
“I think he could. It might be a wise thing to do when you can see which way the wind is blowing after these new regulatory changes. He’s young, he’s won four world titles, and he’s won how many races?”
The year 2026 will bring major changes, so Max Verstappen might wait and see how the competitive landscape shifts before returning to the track:
“No one knows what’s on the other side of the end of this season. What’s going to happen? He could sit out next year and say, OK, now I can see which way the future is going for the next 10 years, and whichever team is heading there will find the money to pay for Max.”
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