New Max Verstappen Red Bull exit clauses emerge after Helmut Marko extension

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Red Bull may be enduring their first three-race winless streak since the end of 2021, but they have recently received an off-track boost. Executive director Helmut Marko has signed a new contract, which has ramifications for the future of Max Verstappen.

Previously, there existed a clause tying Marko’s future to that of the world champion. Verstappen would have been able to depart had the Austrian, who heads up the driver academy that brought him into F1, left the team.

But now, Red Bull have successfully removed that provision. According to BBC Sport, senior figures within the team were ‘terrified’ of losing Verstappen through this mechanism.

As such, they put pressure on Marko to sign a revised contract that keeps him at Milton Keynes until the end of 2026. Verstappen’s deal runs until the end of 2028 but it’s unclear whether or not he’ll see it out.

The 26-year-old seemed immensely frustrated during the Hungarian Grand Prix last weekend. Red Bull’s latest set of upgrades failed to produce the desired results and they were a level below McLaren in terms of performance.

Verstappen was involved in tetchy radio exchanges with Gianpiero Lambiase, his race engineer, at multiple junctures in Sunday’s race. He finished fifth, one of his poorest results of the season, after a late collision with Lewis Hamilton.

Max Verstappen could still leave Red Bull through performance clauses

The report from the BBC states that Verstappen still has a ‘way out’ of Red Bull despite the Marko ‘addendum’ being removed. His other exit clauses are related to ‘the performance of the car and the team’.

It’s unclear what benchmark Verstappen’s camp set in the negotiations. Red Bull currently lead the constructors’ championship by 51 points, but they’ve only won three of the last eight races.

Previous reports have claimed that Verstappen had the option to leave ahead of the 2026 regulation changes. This may depend on the team’s showing in 2025, the final year of the ruleset.

Carlos Sainz has backed Verstappen to win the title both this year and next year. But drivers at McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes will all fancy their chances after another off-season of development.

What Gianpiero Lambiase was heard saying on pitwall after Max Verstappen spat

Martin Brundle has called for Verstappen to treat Red Bull with more respect after the events of Budapest. He was particularly vociferous in complaining about their strategy.

Verstappen and Lambiase have a unique relationship, with both parties preferring frank or even blunt communication. But there were moments at the Hungaroring when they seemed to stray too far.

Lambiase was heard saying ‘what a day’ as he left the pitwall, such was the frustration he’d had to manage. After the late contact with Hamilton, he refused to involve himself in ‘childish’ disputes with other teams.

Verstappen heads to Belgium this weekend looking to change the mood heading into the summer break. He’s bidding to make it four straight wins at Spa, something that hasn’t been achieved since Ayrton Senna’s run in the late ’80s and early ’90s.