Why Max Verstappen Could be Free to Leave Red Bull

Although one clause that would have allowed Max Verstappen to leave Red Bull has reportedly been removed from his contract, another loophole seemingly exists that would allow the Dutchman to drive for another team well before his current contract expires.

The Milton Keynes-based outfit are still well-placed to win both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships, but they have been made to work harder for it than they might have expected – after breezing to both trophies last season.

In recent months, Red Bull’s advantage over the rest of the paddock seems to be diminishing, with their last victory coming in Spain five races ago. The Dutch driver will be looking to put to his side’s dip in form at his home race this weekend. However, if Red Bull’s woes continue, it could seemingly lead to a situation where the 26-year-old is able to walk away from his contract

However, this is no longer the case after both sides agreed to a reworking of the deal. Despite this, there is one final way that Verstappen would be permitted to call time on his career at Red Bull prematurely.

The Dutch superstar’s agreement is said to feature a number of ‘necessary performance clauses’ that could be triggered if Red Bull’s dominance of the sport begins to wane. Should results slip to the point that Verstappen can ‘no longer manage on his own’, he would then be allowed to leave.

While a dip in results doesn’t equate to a full-on crisis, there are potentially some choppy waters ahead for Christian Horner’s team. Chief technology officer Adrian Newey has confirmed that he will be leaving ‘in early 2025’, with Jonathan Wheatley also departing his role as sporting director to become team principal for Audi F1.

It would take a catastrophic turn of events for it to happen, but if Red Bull were to completely implode in the second half of the current season, then Verstappen would seemingly have legal grounds to walk away at the end of the ongoing campaign.