Red Bull co-owner decides he wants to ‘sever ties’ with Max Verstappen

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Red Bull co-owner Mark Mateschitz is minded to part ways with star Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen, according to a report.

Verstappen’s relationship with Red Bull is facing one of its biggest tests yet as he refuses to commit to the team for 2027.

While his contract runs until the end of 2028, Verstappen can activate an exit clause if he is outside the top two in the standings at the start of the summer break. This is now mathematically guaranteed.

If you were Max Verstappen, would you stay at Red Bull or move on?

Verstappen has been linked with McLaren, but could also retire or take a sabbatical

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Mark Mateschitz angered by Max Verstappen refusing to commit to Red Bull

As reported by Planet F1, Verstappen flew to Austria to meet with senior shareholders Chalerm Yoovidhya (who owns 51%) and Mateschitz (who owns 49%) last month.

Red Bull wanted assurances that he would be there next year, and were even willing to buy out his exit clause.

Separate reports have suggested that Red Bull are offering Verstappen £6.9m to forego the clause, but he has refused.

The events of recent weeks have angered Mateschitz, son of company founder Dietrich, so much so that he has ‘indicated a desire to sever ties’. Importantly, CEO Oliver Mintzlaff doesn’t agree, and he is still pushing for Verstappen to sign a new contract.

Mintzlaff wants Verstappen to stay until 2030, which would mean signing a two-year extension.

‘Prominent sources’ have told the publication that an agreement between Verstappen and McLaren, his leading suitors, is ‘imminent’.

Oscar Piastri would be the driver to lose his seat in that scenario, but his camp are confident that he will be staying put. The obvious back-up plan would be to join Red Bull as Verstappen’s replacement.

Red Bull want Verstappen to show more gratitude after making him one of the world’s highest-paid athletes, and giving him the equipment to win four world championships.

If Verstappen stays at Red Bull, he will beat Lewis Hamilton’s record for the most races with the same constructor next year. He is currently 27 behind (219 vs 246).

He is also just one win shy of equalling Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari tally (71), and 13 behind Hamilton’s overall record at Mercedes.