Red Bull grant Max Verstappen eight-figure payout to stop him triggering exit clause

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Red Bull have reportedly made an expensive decision that could stop Max Verstappen escaping his contract before 2027.

It’s believed that Verstappen has an exit clause in his deal, which runs until the end of 2028, based on his position in the standings this year. If he’s outside the top two by the summer break, it will become active.

Verstappen is currently 60 points behind second-place Lewis Hamilton with four races to go before the break. Based on Red Bull’s recent form compared to Ferrari and Mercedes, it’s extremely hard to see how he climbs into the top two.

Red Bull attempt to see off Mercedes interest with huge Max Verstappen payout

In a recent meeting with the top brass in Austria, Verstappen was urged to publicly commit for 2027, a move that would help the team recruit top engineers, but he refused to do so.

There is a way, however, for Red Bull to remove the exit clause from the equation. According to German newspaper Sport Bild, via sport.de, they have now decided to ‘buy it out’.

In order to persuade Verstappen to waive the clause, they will have to pay him a figure ‘in the low double-digit millions’.

Even with that kind of financial incentive, one suspects Verstappen will only stay if he sees a path back to the top with Red Bull. He is already one of the highest-paid athletes in the world, after all.

Given their status as a brand-new engine manufacturer, Red Bull’s position in the pecking order (fourth) broadly aligns with pre-season expectations.

However, the FIA have ruled that Red Bull have the best internal combustion engine on the grid. They’re likely lacking on the battery front compared to Mercedes, but it’s clear that a power deficit isn’t their main problem.

Instead, it’s their overweight chassis, which raises questions about the team’s direction after losing the likes of Adrian Newey, Rob Marshall and Craig Skinner. Jacques Villeneuve says Red Bull are in a rebuild after the departure of several key staff members.

It’s unclear whether Verstappen, who has competed for the title in each of the last five seasons and won it four times, will have the patience for a longer-term project.

Ralf Schumacher says Verstappen turned down an offer from Mercedes because they didn’t meet his terms, but if Toto Wolff is indeed willing to make room for him, the possibility is bound to weigh heavily on his mind.