Max Verstappen's Manager Offers Strongest Hint Yet on Red Bull Future

Max Verstappen's manager, Raymond Vermeulen, has offered the clearest indication yet that the four-time world champion wants to remain at Red Bull for the rest of his Formula 1 career, though he confirmed that exit clauses exist in Verstappen's contract running through 2028. The comments come as Red Bull endures a difficult 2026 campaign, with Verstappen sitting seventh in the standings and 60 points adrift of second place, the threshold that could trigger an early departure at the end of the season.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's future has become the defining story of the 2026 season as Red Bull struggles to compete with Mercedes and Ferrari. Loyalty has kept him at Milton Keynes for over a decade, but performance remains the ultimate currency, and his refusal to commit during recent talks with Red Bull GmbH leadership underscores that the team's trajectory will decide whether he stays.

The details:

• Verstappen has managed just one podium in seven races and trails championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 101 points.
• His contract contains an exit clause understood to activate if he sits below second in the drivers' standings, a gap that currently stands at 60 points behind Lewis Hamilton.
• Before the Barcelona Grand Prix, Verstappen met with Red Bull co-owners Mark Mateschitz and Chalerm Yoovidhya, plus CEO Oliver Mintzlaff, but declined to commit beyond this season or buy out his escape clause.
• Despite speculation linking him to Mercedes, PlanetF1.com understands there has been no recent contact between Verstappen and rival teams regarding a 2027 move.

What's next:

Vermeulen suggested a decision on Verstappen's future could arrive before the summer break, giving Red Bull clarity one way or the other. The team now faces a race against time to prove its 2026 car can evolve into a genuine title contender and convince its star driver that his long-term legacy belongs in Milton Keynes.