Overview

• A clause in Verstappen’s contract will expire at the end of June if he remains among the top four drivers after the Austrian Grand Prix, closing his escape hatch for 2026.
• He currently sits third in the championship, 57 points clear of fifth-placed Charles Leclerc, positioning him to lock in his Red Bull future with races to spare.
• His deal, renegotiated after last year’s internal power struggle, runs until 2028 and no longer includes any exit provision tied to advisor Helmut Marko.
• Winter links to Aston Martin have cooled, and speculation continues that he might eye a move to Mercedes if George Russell’s renewal talks falter.
• Red Bull’s recent car performance struggles and the upcoming 2026 regulation changes add fresh uncertainty to the team’s long-term competitiveness.