Helmut Marko acknowledges Max Verstappen’s negotiations with Mercedes, exit clause uncertain. Helmut Marko confirms that Max Verstappen could be negotiating with Mercedes for the 2026 season.

The future of Max Verstappen
Which team will Max Verstappen race for in 2026? This is the burning question circulating throughout the Formula 1 paddock, amid a season largely dominated by McLaren, where the Dutch driver is almost certain to lose his World Champion title. This uncertainty comes on the eve of one of the most profound regulatory overhauls in the entire history of Formula 1.

At the start of the year, Aston Martin had emerged as a possible alternative, but now Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team stands as the only real rival to Red Bull Racing for Verstappen’s services. It is widely known that both Mercedes drivers have contracts expiring at the end of 2025, and it is no secret that the Dutch superstar is at the top of team principal Toto Wolff’s wish list.

Over the last few race weekends, including Austria and Silverstone, cracks have begun to appear in Red Bull Racing’s armor regarding Verstappen’s continued presence on the team, despite the Dutch driver’s contract theoretically binding him to Milton Keynes until the end of 2028. Both Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing’s former Team Principal, and Max Verstappen himself have carefully avoided publicly confirming that the four-time World Champion will definitely be racing for the Red Bulls next year. It is well known in Formula 1 that what is left unsaid often carries the greatest hints.

Now, even the person closest to Max Verstappen within the Red Bull garage appears to have opened a door—reluctantly—to the possibility of the Orange Champion’s departure. Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s senior advisor, told Austrian website OE24 that Verstappen “could be in negotiations” with Toto Wolff. “He could be in talks. But there are no current developments,” the 82-year-old Graz native stated explicitly.

Marko also reiterated that, at this moment, the much-discussed exit clauses that would allow Verstappen to be released from his Red Bull contract are not active. Since Verstappen currently holds third place in the Drivers’ Championship standings, this comment could implicitly confirm the theory—circulating last week—of a clause that might free Verstappen if he were outside the top three in the Drivers’ Championship at the end of July or the summer break. Given Verstappen’s current 18-point lead over George Russell, it appears unlikely that this clause would come into effect.

What is certain, however, is that Max Verstappen appears far from satisfied with the current performance of the Red Bull RB21. The future—especially with the introduction of an in-house power unit set for 2026—raises some legitimate concerns. “For the title, it’s now essentially a battle between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris,” Helmut Marko admitted. As for defining Verstappen’s future, complete uncertainty still reigns.