Verstappen can keep Red Bull in a stranglehold longer thanks to this agreement

On paper, it’s still possible that after the Hungarian Grand Prix (the last race before the summer break), Max Verstappen will be in second place in the championship. In that case, there’s little for Red Bull Racing to worry about: Verstappen’s contract would automatically extend through 2027.

More realistically, Verstappen won’t be in the top two at the cut-off point. After the coming weekend at Silverstone, it’s theoretically already possible that the top spots will be definitively out of reach. In that case, the four-time world champion has the option to trigger a clause in his contract, which runs through the end of 2028, allowing him to unilaterally terminate the agreement.

Verstappen apparently has a few months before he must inform Red Bull Racing whether he will use that option. It is understood that the deadline is not until mid-October. This gives Verstappen the chance to carefully weigh all his options, although they currently seem limited. In principle, there are no seats available at Mercedes, Ferrari, or McLaren. Nevertheless, manager Raymond Vermeulen will keep a close watch at all the top teams in Formula 1.

It is considered a very realistic scenario that Verstappen will terminate his contract, though that doesn’t necessarily mean he will actually leave. As a free agent, Verstappen can truly test the market, and if there are no attractive opportunities elsewhere, he could still sign a (improved) deal with Red Bull.

In that case, Red Bull will undoubtedly be kept informed of every scenario. The Austrian team then has two options: wait for Verstappen or poach a driver from another top team. In the latter case, Oscar Piastri seems the most obvious choice. If that happens, the path would be clear for Verstappen to go to McLaren.

However, Piastri is no Verstappen. More in line with expectations is that Red Bull will simply wait until Verstappen makes his decision, even if that’s only by mid-October. Ultimately, there is no better driver on the market than the Dutchman, which always makes him the first option for the Austrians. If Verstappen does leave, Red Bull Racing will surely find a replacement somewhere at the last moment.