What will Verstappen do?
Several sources have recently pieced together the details surrounding Max Verstappen’s contract situation with Red Bull. Not only do they assert that the Dutchman can leave the team as early as 2027 if he is not at least second in the world championship standings by the late-July summer break, but they also suggest he has until October to make a final decision. In short, Red Bull’s immediate future hinges entirely on the four-time world champion. Behind the scenes, the team has let slip a certain level of frustration, as this ongoing uncertainty is reportedly stalling the recruitment of new staff and the signing of further commercial sponsors. Max Verstappen’s un-blinded contract, which officially runs until 2028, remains the talk of the paddock, further fueled by recent rumors of an alleged Mercedes offer that triggered a sharp response from his father, Jos.
Red Bull goes on the offensive: trying to buy out the clause
Reports recently emerged regarding a meeting in Austria on June 10th involving Max Verstappen, his manager Raymond Vermeulen, Red Bull’s Thai majority owner Chalerm Yoovidhya, Austrian co-owner Mark Mateschitz, and CEO of corporate projects Oliver Mintzlaff. The presence of Chalerm Yoovidhya was highly unusual, as he typically conducts high-level meetings in Dubai—as has been the case in recent years with Christian Horner and Helmut Marko.
Journalists from German publication Bild have now revealed the reason behind the Thai big boss’s sudden attendance: Red Bull is actively negotiating with Max Verstappen to completely eliminate the early termination clause present in his current contract, which runs until 2028. This isn’t just any speculative source, as Bild was the first outlet to break the news of Horner’s initial management turmoil. The courtship actually began a while ago; back in May, Mark Mateschitz tried to convince Max to commit to a revision, but he was met with skepticism from the Dutch driver.
Consequently, Yoovidhya stepped into the arena, reportedly willing to shell out a massive sum of money to buy out the exit clause—an amount described as being “in the double-digit millions.” The Thai billionaire is eager to resolve the matter as quickly as possible, whereas the Austrian faction of the company, led by Mateschitz and Mintzlaff, is said to be opposing this costly solution. Bild describes the situation as a high-stakes poker game where both sides are waiting for the other to make the first move. Yet, one fundamental question remains: does Max Verstappen truly have a viable Plan B outside of Red Bull?
In conclusion, the internal tug-of-war within Red Bull’s leadership highlights the immense value placed on retaining Max Verstappen, showing that the resolution of his contract clause will not only define the team’s stability but also shape the entire balance of power on the Formula 1 grid for seasons to come.
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