Max Verstappen Can Now Trigger 2027 Red Bull Exit Clause

Max Verstappen can now formally trigger an exit clause allowing him to leave Red Bull in 2027 after a season that has fallen short of his usual championship standards. Following his DNF at the British Grand Prix, the Dutch driver sits on 76 points, making it mathematically impossible to reach the top two in the standings by the summer break.

Why it matters:

• A potential Verstappen departure would send shockwaves through the driver market and could mark the end of Red Bull's competitive dominance at the front of the grid.
• The clause reportedly requires him to be within the championship top two after the Hungarian Grand Prix; with George Russell on 154 points and Lewis Hamilton on 147, Verstappen can only reach a maximum of 126 points, locking him into fourth at best.
• Red Bull remains eager to retain its star, but the team acknowledges that keeping Verstappen hinges on providing a competitive car and attracting top engineering talent.

The details:

• Verstappen's Silverstone retirement left him 78 points adrift of second place with two races remaining before the summer break, confirming his eligibility to activate the exit mechanism.
• Scarce options: Despite the clause, realistic 2027 seats are limited. McLaren CEO Zak Brown has ruled out replacing Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri, and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc recently signed a new deal on improved terms.
• Mercedes blockade: Mercedes has openly courted Verstappen before, but George Russell's new contract through 2027 and Kimi Antonelli's promising rookie campaign leave no obvious vacancy, while Lewis Hamilton intends to stay.
• No guarantees: Verstappen has refused to firmly commit to Red Bull beyond his current deal, keeping the paddock guessing even as both sides insist they want to continue.

What's next:

The Hungarian Grand Prix now looms as the contractual deadline, after which Verstappen must decide whether to pull the trigger or use the clause as leverage to force change at Milton Keynes. Should he seek a new challenge, the four-time champion may find himself with an escape route but no clear destination, potentially leaving him to negotiate from a position of strength with a team eager to keep him.