Overview
- Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies has publicly confirmed Max Verstappen’s contract contains a performance exit clause that can be triggered if set championship conditions are met.
- Verstappen’s manager has denied any imminent plan to leave and says the driver will honour his Red Bull deal through the end of 2028.
- A German tabloid reported that Red Bull offered a new deal to extend Verstappen to 2029 and remove the clause but that report has not been verified by the team or the driver’s camp.
- Recent upgrades to the RB22 — including a replaced rear wing and aerodynamic package changes — produced a front row at Spa and podiums at Spa and Hungary, easing some immediate pressure on Red Bull.
- Pundits and former drivers remain split on whether Verstappen is leveraging the clause or genuinely considering a move, and rival teams are treating the post‑summer decision window as the likely moment for a final announcement.