Sainz: Verstappen has Red Bull contract clause exempting him from marketing duties

Carlos Sainz says Max Verstappen operates under a unique set of rules at Red Bull, with a contractual clause that exempts him from the marketing and media grind that dominates every other driver's schedule. In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Sainz claimed this arrangement leaves Verstappen as the sole member of the current grid with enough free time to realistically consider taking part in an off-track karting competition.

Why it matters:

The claim exposes the wide gulf in leverage between Formula 1's reigning superstar and the rest of the paddock. While teams and sponsors demand ever-increasing commercial access to drivers across a brutal 24-race calendar, Verstappen's ability to opt out entirely signals just how much elite status can rewrite the standard playbook in modern F1.

The details:

• Sainz was asked about reviving legendary indoor karting events like the Elf Masters, which regularly drew Formula 1 talent during the 1990s and 2000s.
• He dismissed the idea as impossible today, blaming a ruthless schedule packed with races, marketing appearances, and media interviews that drain drivers' energy.
• Contractual carve-out: Sainz stated that Verstappen "has it written into his contracts" that he does not do marketing or interviews, an arrangement Red Bull honors that no other team apparently matches for its drivers.
• Capacity gap: The Williams driver stressed that while Verstappen can absorb the extra commitment because his off-track schedule is protected, the other 19 drivers simply lack the bandwidth.

The big picture:

Sainz's comments shine a light on the mounting pressures facing Formula 1 drivers as commercial demands swell alongside the race calendar. Verstappen's exemption may be the exception that proves the rule: in today's F1, even the most basic freedoms require championship-level bargaining power.