Verstappen’s exit clauses revealed as pressure mounts on Red Bull amid internal turmoil – As Red Bull Racing faces one of its most turbulent periods in recent memory, fresh revelations about Max Verstappen’s contract have emerged, shedding new light on the reigning world champion’s potential exit from the team. According to Daily Mail journalist Jonathan McEvoy, who has close ties to Jos, the Dutchman’s contract contains performance-related escape clauses that could allow him to leave the team if certain conditions are not met.

These escape clauses, long rumoured and partially confirmed by Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, are now being examined in light of the team’s recent struggles – both on and off the track. The situation paints a precarious picture for the Milton Keynes-based outfit as it battles internal strife, faltering performance and the very real possibility of losing its superstar driver.

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A contract with strings attached

After winning his first world title in 2021, Max Verstappen signed a lucrative long-term deal that keeps him at Red Bull Racing until 2028. However, the deal did not come without strings attached. While the deal was heralded at the time as a sign of long-term stability, it included several performance-related clauses – designed to ensure Verstappen wasn’t tied to a non-competitive team.

According to McEvoy, one such clause was linked to Helmut Marko’s continued presence at Red Bull. This so-called “Marko clause” reportedly stated that Verstappen’s contract would only be valid as long as the Austrian advisor remained with the team. That clause has since been removed, but performance clauses based on Red Bull’s competitiveness remain in place.

The timing of these revelations is critical. After a dominant season in 2023, Red Bull looked set to dominate for years to come. But a dramatic drop in performance at the start of 2025 has raised questions about whether the team can maintain its supremacy – or keep its leading man happy.

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A tense weekend in Bahrain highlights growing tensions

McEvoy points to the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix as emblematic of Red Bull’s changing fortunes and internal discord. Although last year’s race weekend in Sakhir was also marred by controversy, with Christian Horner under investigation following allegations of inappropriate behaviour by a female employee, the 2025 edition took on an even darker tone.

Red Bull’s performance in Bahrain was underwhelming – a far cry from the dominance of 2023 – and Horner once again found himself at the centre of uncomfortable headlines. McEvoy recalls last year’s Bahrain drama, when Horner and Jos Verstappen shared a seemingly cordial public moment, captured by the watchful eyes of the media and fans. Behind the scenes, however, a very different story was unfolding.

“I remember a more sincere scene from Friday night in Bahrain, when the cameramen were already in their hotels,” McEvoy wrote. “Next to me, Jos Verstappen was pacing up and down, clearly nervous. He had just come out of Horner’s office after a big argument. He was absolutely furious.

The fallout from that confrontation was significant. Jos reportedly told McEvoy in private that the team would “explode” unless Horner resigned or was sacked. The next day, Jos gave McEvoy permission to go public with the quote, underlining the depth of the Verstappen family’s frustration with Red Bull’s leadership.

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Rifts in the Red Bull hierarchy

Although Horner ultimately weathered the storm, the fissures within Red Bull’s upper echelons remain. McEvoy reports an ongoing power struggle between Horner and Helmut Marko, a long-time ally of both Jos and Max Verstappen. This rift has further complicated Red Bull’s ability to present a united front as it attempts to deal with its internal issues.

The political battle within the team has largely been split between Horner, who is backed by Thai majority shareholder Chalerm Yoovidhya, and Marko, who is backed by Mark Mateschitz, son of the late Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz. Notably, the Verstappens have aligned themselves with Marko and the Austrian side of Red Bull’s leadership – a potentially ominous signal for Horner.

While the external spotlight focuses on race results and team strategy, Red Bull is also grappling with unresolved personnel issues. The employee who made the complaint against Horner remains suspended, and McEvoy notes that she is now negotiating a severance package reportedly worth seven figures. This ongoing dispute only adds another layer of instability to an already volatile situation.

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Verstappen’s leverage and Red Bull’s dilemma

For Max Verstappen, these contract clauses provide both an exit strategy and significant leverage. If Red Bull’s performance continues to deteriorate, or if internal tensions escalate further, he could choose to walk away – even though he has three years left on his contract.

The timing couldn’t be worse for Red Bull. The team is under immense pressure to regain its competitive edge for 2025. Other top teams, such as Mercedes and Ferrari, have closed the gap – and in some areas overtaken Red Bull. The decline in performance is not just a technical problem but a strategic crisis, especially with Verstappen holding all the cards.

Red Bull’s dominance in recent years has been built around Verstappen’s brilliance, Adrian Newey’s aerodynamic genius and a well-oiled team structure. But with Newey already gone, the foundations of that success are now shaky.

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The road ahead: Crucial months for Red Bull

Looking ahead, Red Bull must act quickly and decisively if it hopes to retain Verstappen. That means not only improving the RB21’s pace, but also addressing the toxic internal atmosphere that has been in place since early 2024. The team cannot afford to lose the driver who has delivered three consecutive world titles and brought unparalleled consistency and speed to the grid.

Verstappen has remained largely silent on the specifics of his contract, but the underlying message is clear: he expects a winning car and a stable environment. If Red Bull cannot deliver both, other teams – perhaps Mercedes or even Audi’s forthcoming F1 project – will be watching with interest.

The pressure is also mounting on Horner. While he has managed to survive numerous controversies, his grip on the team’s leadership appears more tenuous than ever. Should Verstappen make a move to leave, it could spark a wider reshuffle within the Red Bull hierarchy – and even force the board to reconsider Horner’s position.

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The bottom line: A defining crossroads for team and driver

As Max Verstappen begins another title defence under a cloud of uncertainty, the revelations about his escape clauses underline just how much is at stake in 2025. Red Bull’s ability to retain its most valuable asset depends not just on race results, but on its ability to heal internal wounds, unify its leadership and present a compelling vision for the future.

If it fails on any of these fronts, Verstappen’s contract may not be the ironclad commitment many once believed it to be. Instead, it could become the very instrument of his departure – leaving Red Bull to reckon with the consequences of letting the most dominant driver of his generation slip through its fingers.

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MORE F1 NEWS – Verstappen blasts his own team “Catastrophe”

Verstappen reeling after Bahrain setback as Red Bull faces questions over future stability – The Formula One paddock was left stunned after reigning world champion Max Verstappen endured a frustrating and chaotic Bahrain Grand Prix that ended with the Dutchman finishing a disappointing sixth. Once a symbol of untouchable dominance, Verstappen’s race under the lights at Sakhir highlighted a number of issues plaguing Red Bull Racing – issues that could have far-reaching consequences for the team, including speculation that Verstappen could be weighing up his options for life beyond Milton Keynes.

Verstappen didn’t mince his words in the aftermath of a race that went wrong from start to finish, lambasting his team’s performance and describing the entire event as a “disaster”. His raw and scathing remarks have raised fresh concerns within Red Bull management and sparked debate in the paddock: could F1’s dominant figure actually walk away from the team that made him a three-time world champion? READ MORE ON THIS STORY