Verstappen stays loyal to Red Bull in 2026, no exit clause triggered

If Verstappen is not in the top three of the world championship by summer, he could theoretically trigger a clause to dissolve his contract running until the end of 2028. However, regardless of the position Verstappen holds at the check date, he will remain loyal to Red Bull in '26.

Max Verstappen has always said he wanted to stay with Red Bull Racing, although his entourage was not always happy with this. It has now become clear to everyone that there is no better option for Verstappen than Red Bull Racing.

In 2026, a new technical regulation will be implemented in Formula 1, with no one knowing exactly how the power balance between the teams will be. It is expected that Mercedes will have the most powerful engine, but whether the team of team boss Toto Wolff also builds the best chassis? No one can predict.

The doubts about Red Bull Powertrains - the power units developed and built in-house by Red Bull with the help of Ford - still exist, but perhaps the team can compensate for any power loss from the power unit with a strong chassis.

Moreover, if Verstappen were to use an exit clause and leave Red Bull: what's the alternative? Both driver positions at McLaren and Ferrari are filled. At Mercedes, George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli have expiring contracts, but the German team tends towards renewing both.

Aston Martin was not an option for Verstappen because there's significant doubt about the steps the ambitious team can take next year. Although Adrian Newey has joined the green team, whether he can immediately make his mark on the development of the car is a big question in the Dutch camp.

Moreover, Max Verstappen feels at home with Red Bull Racing. This is the team that does everything to please him and demonstrated in the last few weeks that indeed forward steps could be made - although they are limited. Consider, for instance, the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, where Verstappen drove his RB21 to an emphatic victory. That race must have given Verstappen confidence for the future and strengthened his belief that Red Bull is the team where he belongs in '26.