Verstappen's Red Bull contract includes exit clauses, Jos confirms

Max Verstappen's new Red Bull contract runs through 2030, but it includes "agreements" that could allow him to leave early if stipulated targets aren't met. That's according to his father Jos, who says the intention remains to stay with the team "until the end."

Why it matters:

After months of speculation linking Verstappen to McLaren and even a possible F1 exit, the extension locks in Red Bull's star driver. But the performance clauses mean the deal is conditional on Red Bull delivering a race-winning car.

The details:

• The extension was negotiated by Verstappen's manager Raymond Vermeulen and Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff.
• Jos Verstappen confirmed clauses exist but declined to reveal specifics: "What those agreements are, we know that and Red Bull knows that and we are not going to publicise that."
• His previous contract had a clause allowing him to leave if he was third or lower by the summer break. He sits sixth in 2026, still chasing his first win of the season.
• Verstappen won on his Red Bull debut in 2016 and has since amassed 71 wins and four world titles with the team.
• He reaffirmed his desire to finish his F1 career with Red Bull, a goal he has held since Dietrich Mateschitz was alive.

What's next:

With Verstappen locked in, pressure shifts to Red Bull to produce a car capable of challenging Mercedes. Jos says mutual trust underpins the deal: "The confidence is there that we will get another winning car at Red Bull. But to what extent they will actually succeed is of course always a matter of waiting."