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Max Verstappen has been told it is the “perfect timing” to leave Red Bull early as speculation grows around his future.
Verstappen is believed to have a clause in his contract stipulating he can leave Red Bull early if he is not in the top two in the drivers’ championship by the summer break, with Red Bull struggling to regularly match the pace of the McLaren.
The long-term future of the Dutchman at the team has been called into question, with his current deal set to expire in 2028, but both Mercedes and Aston Martin are keen to lure him from Milton Keynes, although Aston does not currently have a vacany.
Both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll are on long-term deals of their own, with Mercedes potentially having a seat for 2026, with George Russell in a contract year and Kimi Antonelli only on a short-term deal.
Evaluating the situation, former F1 driver Johnny Herbert believes that if Verstappen were to leave Red Bull, the timing could be optimum.
“It’s very interesting if the Saudis get involved with Aston Martin. If you had the money, you would pay all you have to get Max Verstappen on your team,” Herbert told CoinCasino.
“He’s still, by far, the best driver on the grid at the moment. He’s still out-qualifying the McLaren, which is just a little faster.
“If Aston Martin gets their development right for next year, you could see them become the next team to beat. But, they have a big hill to climb.
“If you have Verstappen and Adrian Newey at the top of their games, then it will be hard to beat them, but that isn’t a guarantee.
“Verstappen will be thinking, where is the best place for him, and when can he leave. Helmut Marko alluded to a get-out clause which could come into effect this season, it would be perfect timing for Verstappen.
“I hope he chooses the right team so he can keep battling at the very top for the foreseeable future. We want him and the likes of Oscar Piastri to really fight for the title, which can only be good for the sport.”
