Max Verstappen and his clause that would leave him in Red Bull

After the rumor about an ostentatious supply of Aston Martin and his flirting with Mercedes, the Dutch could be firm in the Austrian team after the GP of Spain.

Formula 1 pilots contracts have a lot of small print and endless clauses. There are all kinds, in favor of the teams and, also, of the runners. Of course, it depends on the pedigree of each one who takes the pen to stamp the firm. If it is a rookie or a bet of a team, there are performance: if it does not work, outside. Examples, many, Jack Doohan, the last case. On the other side are the consecrated, who usually impose performance conditions as well, but in this case of the car. If they do not deliver with competitive car, thanks for everything. In this last group, of course, there is Max Verstappen. The Dutchman signed in March 2022 the renewal of his link with Red Bull for five seasons for period 24-28. But, of course, several requirements were allowed in the middle.

Already in the second part of last year, when the walk of the Milton Keynes team had left behind its overwhelming passage and was surpassed by McLaren, the possibility arose that the Team let Helmut Marko, the man of extreme confidence of the tetracampeon and a person of key ancestry in the scaffolding. A clause marked that, if the Austrian did not follow, Max armed the bag. In the middle, the flirting of Mercedes, with Toto Wolff (the director of the arrows) stretching the hiring of a replacement for the outgoing Lewis Hamilton and with public messages that he expected for Verstappen. Everything remained in nothing and the Dutch continued in Red Bull.

In the European winter, an alleged billionaire offer of Aston Martin began to sound to unite Max with Adrian Newey and Honda in the English team. Everything, accompanied by two key situations: the RB21 is far from the Woking MCL39 and only Verstappen’s talent keeps it in a fight and that in 2026 there will be a new technical regulation, with brand new engines and cars. And precisely the Red Bull driver is the great unknown that revolves around the paddock because it is its own development, in society with Ford. Then, a new clause that was recognized by Marko emerged: If it is not among the first four of the tournament due to the lack of performance of the car, you can close its passage through Milton Keyens at the end of the year. But when can you execute the clause?

Initially it was said that the limit was in the boreal summer stop (after the Hungary GP of August 3). However, Autosport published that the moment of possible execution of the clause is at the end of June, that is, at the end of the 11th date in Austria. If for the end of the competition at the Red Bull Ring the tetracampeón is not among the top four, it could leave. With current accounts, that contractual condition could lose validity this weekend in Barcelona.

Verstappen third in the World Cup, 35 points from the leader, Oscar Piastri and with 57 advantage over the fifth, Charles Leclerc. If on Sunday, when the flag of paintings of the GP of Spain is lowered, the champion maintains an advantage of more than 50 units over the fifth, there will be no possible clause because 50 will be 50 in dispute in June (Canada and Austria). This would mark the continuity of the Dutch on Red Bull, although there are always more clauses, small print and termination.