Max Verstappen’s exit clause: Could the champion leave Red Bull at the end of 2026 F1?. Max Verstappen could use a contract clause to leave Red Bull at the end of 2026.

Max Verstappen is not enjoying the new Formula 1 regulations. He made this clear before the start of the 2026 season and has reiterated it repeatedly throughout the first three race weekends. After Suzuka, Dutch media even raised the possibility of a full-season retirement for the four-time world champion. Behind the scenes, however, there is also the prospect of Verstappen leaving Red Bull at the end of the season. If that happens, entirely new scenarios could open up, including a potential move to Mercedes, which has long been courting him.

A rough start for Max Verstappen

“SuperMax” is, for now, just Max. His Red Bull simply isn’t performing, and he’s struggling to adapt to the new rules. Fighting for eighth place is a demoralizing experience for a driver of his calibre. In Japan, Verstappen was even knocked out in Q2 during qualifying. The future looks far from bright, as Red Bull as a team is currently not producing the strongest car and may not be able to do so this season. While the Austrian squad has often managed to turn things around in the past, the challenge now appears particularly daunting.

Verstappen’s Red Bull exit clause

So what will happen to Max? The Telegraph highlighted a key detail: a well-known clause in his lucrative contract allows him to terminate the agreement at the end of the season if he is not among the top positions in the drivers’ standings by the summer break. This clause became a topic of discussion last year, but Red Bull allowed Verstappen to recover and fight for the title until the final race. Today, however, it would take a combination of good luck and strong results to bring him back into contention. The current championship is already seeing Antonelli and George Russell pull ahead, followed by Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, while McLaren has shown encouraging signs in Japan.

Three suitors and the sabbatical option

This opens a very real chance for Verstappen to leave Red Bull and consider multiple offers, potentially even before the season ends. He could choose between several paths. The idea of retirement, suggested in Dutch media, is one possibility, along with the option of taking a sabbatical—a break that past champions like Kimi Raikkonen, Alain Prost, Fernando Alonso, and Nigel Mansell have taken. Yet offers would surely be plentiful, as the best driver in the world is in high demand. Aston Martin could be interested, although the team is struggling more than others. Mercedes could offer a high-profile opportunity, especially with Russell’s contract expiring, potentially forming a superteam with Kimi Antonelli. And there could even be a chance for a future in red: Ferrari has designated Oliver Bearman as Lewis Hamilton’s heir, but if Lewis Hamilton were to leave, a move for Verstappen could be considered.

As the 2026 season progresses, the next few months will be decisive for Verstappen’s career. Whether he remains at Red Bull, switches teams, takes a sabbatical, or retires, his decision will be one of the biggest talking points in Formula 1 this year.