Guenther Steiner is ‘sure’ of when Max Verstappen ‘can leave’ Red Bull after his exit clause expired

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Max Verstappen is now locked in at Red Bull for at least the 2026 season after the exit clause in the Dutchman’s contract through 2028 expired after the Belgian Grand Prix.

The 27-year-old has held the keys to the 2026 F1 driver market this year, despite having one of the longest contracts on the grid. Mercedes have so far held off on agreeing to new terms with George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli in case a chance to get Verstappen appeared.

But the Silver Arrows must now wait at least another year to try to tempt the 27-year-old to ditch Red Bull. Unless Mercedes or another team meets Verstappen’s £86m Red Bull buyout clause, the Dutchman cannot break his contract as his 2025 exit clause cannot be activated.

Verstappen had to rank outside of the top three in the 2025 F1 drivers’ championship at the summer break to enjoy the choice of breaking his Red Bull contract or not. But he cannot be caught in third place any longer, as Russell is 28 points behind with 25 to play for in Hungary.

Guenther Steiner is ‘sure’ Max Verstappen ‘can leave’ Red Bull after the 2026 F1 season

Yet while the four-time champion must remain in Milton Keynes next year, Guenther Steiner is ‘sure’ that Verstappen holds the right to leave Red Bull at the end of the 2026 F1 season if he wants to. Steiner believes the option was key to Red Bull convincing him to stay for 2026.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Verstappen has an exit clause that is easier to reach in 2026 compared to 2025, as he can leave Red Bull if he hits the summer outside the top two in next year’s standings. But Steiner claims the Dutchman can leave if Red Bull do not produce a winning 2026 F1 regulations car.

Steiner told sport.de: “I think the deciding factor for staying is that he doesn’t know which team will be strong next season. Switching now and signing a three-year contract with a team, and then maybe sitting in the wrong car next year, that risk was too great for him.

“So, he told himself he’d rather stay with Red Bull and then, if necessary, he can get out of his contract at the end of next year if the car doesn’t work out.

“I’m sure he can leave then. He’s the best driver, and the best driver dictates the market. That’s why he said, ‘I’ll stay if I leave next year’.”

Max Verstappen has a gentleman’s agreement with Red Bull to end his contract after 2026

Steiner is not alone in believing that Verstappen has already secured an agreement with Red Bull that could let him change teams after next year. There have also been reports that claim Verstappen holds a gentleman’s agreement with Red Bull to leave after 2026 if he asks to go.

Mercedes, then, will likely pay very close attention to how Red Bull kick off the new era next year when they also become power unit manufacturers for the first time. If Red Bull’s car for the new regulations is not a match for Mercedes’, team boss Toto Wolff will likely eye a deal.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Red Bull Racing from engine to Ford links

Wolff only wants to give Antonelli a one-year contract to keep a door open for Verstappen to join Mercedes in the future, which could even see Russell sign only a one-plus-one-year deal to stay at the Silver Arrows next term. Both Mercedes drivers are out of contract after 2025.

Even Russell privately thinks Verstappen is right to stay at Red Bull, at least for 2026, so that he can see which team or teams perfect the 2026 F1 regulations, before the Dutchman then decides his long-term future. The 2027 driver market could offer a lot more seats than 2026.

Aston Martin eyed a £1bn contract for Verstappen earlier this year, as owner Lawrence Stroll is keen to sign the 65-time Grand Prix winner. Yet Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll are both under contract in Silverstone for 2026. Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari contract also ends next year.