Love him or hate him, Max Verstappen has left a lasting legacy in the sport.
After all, Max Verstappen didn’t just enter Formula 1. Debuting with Toro Rosso at the age 17 and winning his first race with Red Bull a year later, the Dutchman fundamentally altered how F1 teams evaluate young talent.
In fact, the FIA had to rewrite the Super License rules as a result of Verstappen’s entrance into the sport. They panicked at the precedent Max set by skipping Formula 2 entirely, a move that is now legally impossible under the new system.
Newer fans, however, know him best for his recent dominance. He went toe-to-toe with seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton at the absolute peak of Mercedes’ dominance. During the ground-effect era, he shattered records that were thought untouchable.
Even without the best car, Max refused to yield. Take the second half of 2025 as a prime example of this. As his machinery deficit grew, he relied on pure racecraft and relentless consistency, missing out on the title by a mere two points at the final race in Abu Dhabi.
“As a driver, the feeling is not very Formula 1-like. It feels a bit more like Formula E on steroids… A lot of what you do as a driver, in terms of inputs, has a massive effect on the energy side of things. For me, that’s just not Formula 1.” — Max Verstappen
This year also marks Red Bull’s first attempt at building its own engine. Between reliability issues and the recent shock ADUO verdict, the Milton Keynes squad is constantly on the back foot against its rivals.
Still, the possibility of Max walking away from F1, especially with a contract until the end of 2028, seems far-fetched. So, what is the real story behind the sources suggesting his departure?
Max Verstappen’s Exit Clause
Max Verstappen holds a contract with Red Bull that keeps him at the Milton Keynes outfit until the end of 2028.
However, it has been an open secret in the paddock that the deal contains an exit clause. It revolves entirely around his championship standing before the summer break.
If he sits below second in the Drivers’ Championship when the summer break arrives, the Dutchman could leave Red Bull before the season ends.
Following a disastrous run of form and a zero-point haul at Silverstone, it became mathematically impossible for Max to secure P2 before the break. This means the exit clause is now formally triggered.
Earlier this year, a report from German publication Bild also claimed the performance benchmark jumps even higher for 2027.
If Max is not leading the championship by the 2027 summer break, he can unilaterally terminate his contract at the end of that year.
The report also suggests that former Red Bull Advisor Helmut Marko negotiated Max’s contract and agreed to these clauses.
A Purist At Heart
Max Verstappen’s passion for racing extends far beyond Formula 1.
Even during a busy race weekend, the Dutchman is known to set up a simulator rig in his motorhome just to keep racing.
Take the 2024 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, for example. After securing pole position during F1 qualifying, he returned to his motorhome and put in a massive three-hour stint on the simulator, tripling his team’s lead in the virtual iRacing Nürburgring 24 Hours.
By the end of the weekend, Max had won the Imola Grand Prix on the actual tarmac, while his esports team, Team Redline, secured victory in the virtual race.
The four-time World Champion has also built a serious presence in real-world GT racing. In 2025, his team, “Verstappen.com Racing”, took the Gold Cup victory at the 24 Hours of Spa and claimed both the Endurance and Sprint championships in their class.
“It’s becoming more and more serious. We entered this year not as a Pro class, but in the Gold Cup… Next year, we want to be in the Pro championship, basically. We’re changing cars, but it’s getting bigger and better. It’s still only the start. I mean, my plans, of course, are still, I want to go bigger and bigger, but step by step.” — Max Verstappen
For 2026, they dropped the “.com” to become Verstappen Racing and secured official “Performance Team” factory status from Mercedes-AMG. They upgraded to a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo and jumped to the top-tier Pro class, fielding elite drivers like Jules Gounon and Dani Juncadella.
But what stands out most is his dedication to building a legitimate pipeline for virtual talent to enter real-world motorsport. Chris Lulham is the prime example.
After Lulham joined Team Redline as a sim racer in 2021, Max handpicked him to make the step up to actual GT3 racing. By 2025, Lulham was winning the 24 Hours of Spa in Max’s GT car.
Will Max Verstappen Leave Red Bull?
In recent months, rumours have swirled about a possible move for four-time World Champion Max Verstappen to McLaren, where he would replace Oscar Piastri and partner Lando Norris.
The speculation gained traction when reports surfaced that Max’s camp had engaged in informal chats with McLaren CEO Zak Brown. Speaking with Sky Sports F1 in Austria, Brown said:
“You know, we’ve got contracts but even contracts aside, they are very happy here and we are very happy with them. If for some strange reason, someone slipped on a banana peel getting out of the tub then yeah, of course, Max is a four-time World Champion.” — Zak Brown
When it became mathematically impossible for Max to secure second in the championship before the summer break, many quickly pointed to his performance-based exit clause.
These exploratory chats are commonplace in Formula 1. Max’s management team would not be doing their jobs if they didn’t constantly assess the driver market. It’s their job to ensure Max is ready to move when the time is right, whether that is in the near future or years down the line.
But what does Max actually want to do? If he had already made up his mind, he likely would have confirmed his plans for the future.
Ultimately, Max wants to fight for race victories. He is driving at an exceptionally high level and wants to capitalise on his peak.
Plus, it is never certain how long a driver can maintain their prime, and Max has always made it clear that he will not linger in Formula 1 as long as some of his peers.
What’s next for the four-time World Champion?
At first glance, walking away from Red Bull seems illogical when you consider the lifestyle it affords him.
Red Bull gives Max a remarkably long leash. They allow him to run simulator stints in his motorhome hours before a Grand Prix. They remain entirely hands-off while he builds a Mercedes-AMG backed GT3 operation.
It is hard to imagine heavily corporate environments like Mercedes or McLaren offering that same level of absolute freedom.
But the decision to leave Red Bull and the decision to leave Formula 1 are two separate conversations.
If Red Bull cannot deliver a championship-contending car, his performance clauses give him a clear exit. It is unlikely that Max would look outside the Red Bull pool given it won’t offer him race-winning machinery.
This means the Dutchman is more likely to stay with the Milton Keynes outfit and work with the team — as he has done for more than a decade — to find a way back to their winning form.
Plus, jumping to a rival team comes with PR commitments and restrictions he likely has no interest in adopting.
Would Max Verstappen Leave Formula 1?
Beyond this, could Max Verstappen leave Formula 1 entirely?
After all, Max is a racing purist. He has already voiced his frustrations that modern F1 cars feel like “Formula E on steroids.” If the 2026 regulations make the driving experience even more about battery management and less about raw pace, the appeal of Formula 1 will wear thin.
Unlike other drivers who cling to their seats, Max has a ready-made escape route. He already has a fully operational top-tier GT team, factory backing, and a well-documented desire to pursue racing in other series, such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
When Max Verstappen finally decides to leave Red Bull, it might not be for another Formula 1 team. It will likely be to race for himself.
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Formula 1 returns August 23rd in Zandvoort.
Featured Image Credits: Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool