Red Bull face ‘nightmare’ sponsorship scenario if Max Verstappen decides to leave

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Red Bull are reportedly facing a ‘nightmare’ sponsorship scenario if Max Verstappen decides to engineer a move away from the team.

So far in the 2026 Formula 1 season, four-time world champion Verstappen’s Red Bull future has been a major talking point.

It has been well documented that Verstappen is not keen on the new regulations brought in before 2026, having compared the new era to playing ‘Mario Kart’.

Recently, Verstappen hinted that he would stay in F1 following reports that engine tweaks are set to be introduced for the 2027 season.

However, due to Red Bull’s current struggles, Verstappen has again been linked with a move away.

Does Max Verstappen need to make up his mind?

He has once again threatened to quit F1 if the rules aren't changed for 2027

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Red Bull face ‘nightmare’ sponsorship scenario if Max Verstappen decides to leave

Looking towards the future, it has now been claimed that Red Bull could face a sponsorship problem.

According to Austrian news outlet OE24, Red Bull could face a ‘nightmare’ scenario when it comes to Verstappen’s future.

The report stated that there is a clause within the Dutchman’s contract that allows him to engineer a move away, but a decision has to be made in late July.

It has been noted that ‘several sponsorship deals’ depend on what decision Verstappen decides to make.

In addition, Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies is looking for ‘clarity’ in order to plan for the future.

It has been claimed that although Verstappen is ‘determined’ not to be ‘pressured’, Red Bull bosses are said to be ‘pushing’ for a final decision to be made before the deadline.

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READ MORE: Max Verstappen saw Lewis Hamilton save his race ‘at the last moment’ on Canadian Grand Prix grid

What did Max Verstappen say about his F1 future?

Verstappen had one of his best weekends of the 2026 season so far in Canada, finishing third behind Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli.

Despite committing his future earlier in the weekend, Verstappen ended the weekend by criticising the regulations once more.

The 28-year-old is adamant to push for a ‘good product’ in F1 and rejected suggestions of a potential sabbatical.

As per Sky Sports, Verstappen said: “If it stays like this, it’s going to be a long year next year that I don’t want. It’s just mentally not doable for me to stay like this. It’s really not. There’s a lot of other fun things out there.

“I just want a good product in Formula 1, and that [the proposed changes] will for sure improve the product. What I said before with the changes, hopefully that will happen next year, that will already help a lot.

“I’ve always said it doesn’t matter if I had a good car or not, it’s just a product, and I think the product will improve like that, so naturally I think then the enjoyment will go up as well.”