Max Verstappen faces a ‘bitter pill’ after realising his only two options to leave Red Bull in 2027

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Max Verstappen is on course to get the right to leave Red Bull at the end of 2026 via a release clause in his contract, yet his options to stay in F1 in 2027 are hard to swallow.

The 28-year-old is tied up at Red Bull through 2028 on paper, having agreed in 2022 to sign what was at the time the longest contract in Formula 1. But Verstappen will be able to break out of his terms early if he hits the 2026 summer break outside the top two in the standings.

It is also not impossible that 2026 could mark the last year in which Verstappen drives in F1, because of his hatred for the new engine regulations. Verstappen is regularly threatening to retire from F1, and the exit door at Red Bull is ajar with five rounds until the summer break.

Aston Martin and Audi are now Max Verstappen’s only rival options to stay in F1 in 2027

At present, it seems very likely that Verstappen will get from August to October to trigger his release clause, as he is currently only seventh in the standings through six rounds. He is also 47 points behind second, which Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton now occupies with 90 points so far.

READ MORE: Every key Red Bull staff departure, including Gianpiero Lambiase to McLaren

But while Verstappen could get the right to leave Red Bull, BILD reports that the Dutchman’s options elsewhere in the F1 field are a ‘bitter pill to swallow’ for the four-time champion. He might only have two options in Aston Martin and Audi, and neither is of any interest to him.

Aston Martin and Audi would ‘gladly’ offer Verstappen an escape route if he decides to leave Red Bull. Yet a transfer to one of Red Bull’s current rival front-runners in Mercedes, Ferrari or McLaren appears to be off the table, as they are all ready to stick with their current line-ups.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli winning the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday for his fifth straight victory is believed to have seen Toto Wolff ‘lose his years-long interest’ in signing Verstappen. Wolff also said on Sunday: “I can’t imagine a better driver pairing than the one we currently have.”

If you were Toto Wolff, would you sign Max Verstappen to replace George Russell?

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Ferrari also gave Charles Leclerc a new long-term contract ahead of the Monaco GP, and it is now widely believed that Hamilton has a deal for 2027. McLaren do not want to lose Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri, as well, as they feel they have the best driver line-up in F1 – and there is a belief in Woking that they could even boast the strongest F1 line-up for the next decade.

So, if Verstappen does decide to leave Red Bull after more than a decade, his future could lie in endurance racing rather than Formula 1. His passion for endurance racing will also play an important role in any negotiations the Dutchman has with F1 teams about a move for 2027.

Reports prior to the Monaco GP claimed Verstappen will demand that the F1 team he drives for in 2027 lets him race in other series next year, as he does not want to lose the freedoms that Red Bull offer him. Aston Martin and Audi could certainly offer Verstappen a chance to.

While Verstappen is not thought to be keen on joining Aston Martin or Audi’s F1 teams, the British and German brands are established giants in endurance racing. Aston Martin can also offer Verstappen a chance to make his 24 Hours of Le Mans debut in the Hypercar class with their Valkyrie AMR-LMH. Audi do not currently race in the World Endurance Championship.