Red Bull offers Max Verstappen new €65m-per-year contract as exit clause saga enters decisive phase – Red Bull has reportedly made a major attempt to secure Max Verstappen’s long-term future by offering the Dutchman a new contract running until the end of the 2029 Formula 1 season.
According to German newspaper Bild, the proposed agreement would increase Verstappen’s annual salary to around €65 million while removing the exit clauses that have dominated speculation throughout 2026.
The offer has reportedly been with Verstappen’s management team for several weeks, but no formal response has yet been given. With the Hungarian Grand Prix marking the final race before Formula 1’s summer shutdown, attention has once again turned to the four-time world champion’s future.
Although Verstappen remains under contract with Red Bull until the end of 2028, performance-related provisions within his existing deal mean he could still leave before then. That uncertainty has fuelled months of speculation linking him with rival teams, particularly Mercedes.
Why Verstappen’s exit clause remains so important
Verstappen’s current contract reportedly contains a clause tied to his championship position following the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Heading into the weekend, the Dutchman sat seventh in the Drivers’ Championship, 68 points behind second place. Even with victory in Budapest, he cannot mathematically climb high enough to avoid triggering the reported contractual provision.
The clause does not automatically send Verstappen elsewhere, but it reportedly gives him the option to leave Red Bull before his contract expires. According to Bild, that decision can be made later in the season, potentially as late as October.
Such a timeline would leave Red Bull in a difficult position should Verstappen decide to move on, with few elite drivers likely to be available so late in the driver market.
Rumours recently suggested Red Bull had considered paying Verstappen to remove the clause altogether, with figures of around €9 million being discussed in the paddock. Bild reports those claims are incorrect.
Instead, Red Bull’s leadership has reportedly focused on replacing the current agreement with a completely new deal extending through 2029 without the existing release provisions.
Red Bull hopes financial package can secure long-term commitment
The proposed contract is said to have been led by team principal Laurent Mekies alongside Red Bull sporting director Oliver Mintzlaff.
Rather than simply buying out the existing clause, the reported strategy is to offer Verstappen greater financial security while reinforcing the team’s commitment to him over the long term.
According to Bild, Verstappen has neither accepted nor rejected the proposal, leaving negotiations ongoing.
His manager, Raymond Vermeulen, recently reinforced the strength of the relationship between both parties.
“We have a contract until 2028. Of course, there are release clauses, there always have been. But we have never exercised one. On the contrary. We have always been loyal and will remain so. We want to continue our journey with Red Bull and Max wants to end his career here – but of course with the opportunity to win.”
Those comments underline that Verstappen’s priority is competitiveness rather than contractual flexibility alone.
Red Bull’s improving form could influence Verstappen’s decision
The biggest factor in Verstappen’s future may ultimately be Red Bull’s on-track performance.
After slipping behind McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes earlier this season, Red Bull introduced a substantial upgrade package at the Austrian Grand Prix, including revised sidepods and engine bodywork.
Since then, Verstappen has returned to the podium in two of the following three races, suggesting the RB22 has become more competitive.
Whether that progress is enough to convince the Dutchman to commit beyond 2028 remains uncertain.
According to Bild, Red Bull’s senior leadership, including company heir Mark Mateschitz and Oliver Mintzlaff, are eager to bring months of uncertainty to an end. Negotiations have reportedly been ongoing since May, but Verstappen remains in a strong position, with time on his side and multiple options still available.
For Red Bull, securing the signature of its star driver before the driver market accelerates could prove just as important as any result achieved on track during the remainder of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Verstappen’s future remains the biggest unresolved question in Formula 1’s driver market. A new long-term Red Bull contract would significantly reduce speculation surrounding a potential move to Mercedes or another rival team, while giving Red Bull stability as it prepares for Formula 1’s new regulations.
However, with no agreement yet reached and reported exit provisions still in play, the uncertainty is likely to continue beyond the summer break.
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