Max Verstappen could already consider himself effectively free from his Red Bull contract, with a key performance clause set to be activated during the summer if he is not running in first or second place in the Formula 1 drivers’ championship standings.
As a result, Red Bull may soon be forced to start thinking seriously about a potential replacement for its star driver, as uncertainty begins to grow around his long-term future with the Milton Keynes-based team.
Move to Mercedes or a sabbatical year?
Max Verstappen’s manager, Raymond Vermeulen, has played a crucial role in securing a contract that is both highly lucrative and long-term, while also ensuring that it contains flexible exit conditions. These clauses allow the Dutch driver to leave relatively easily if Red Bull fails to remain competitive at the highest level.
Last year, Max Verstappen had the option to activate a release clause if he was not inside the top three of the drivers’ championship by the summer break. That clause was never triggered, as he was sitting in third place behind the McLaren drivers at that point in the season.
However, in 2026 the conditions have become even stricter. According to a report by The Telegraph, Max Verstappen will be able to exit his contract if he is not among the top two drivers in the championship standings. Given the current situation, the Dutchman could already consider himself in a position to leave, while Red Bull would be wise to begin evaluating possible alternatives.
Max Verstappen is not required to make an immediate decision and could wait until as late as October before officially informing the team of his intentions. This timeline gives him the opportunity to carefully assess his options before committing to his next move.
At present, there appear to be two main paths that could take him away from Red Bull. One option is a potential move to Mercedes, although Toto Wolff has recently emphasized that both George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli are tied to the team with multi-year contracts.
The second option would be a sabbatical year, during which Max Verstappen could step away from Formula 1 to focus on GT3 racing and endurance events, including iconic competitions such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Such a move would allow him to reset before potentially returning to the grid under different circumstances.
The ball is therefore entirely in Max Verstappen’s court. Based on the performance gaps seen in the early rounds of 2026, the performance clause is almost certain to become active by the summer. Red Bull now faces the daunting task of convincing their talisman to stay, or preparing for life without the driver who defined their most recent era of dominance.
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