Did Yuki Tsunoda Just Unknowingly Trigger Verstappen’s Red Bull Exit? A Hidden Clause, Mercedes Spies, and a Twist No One Saw Coming.

Red Bull’s overreliance on Max Verstappen is clearer than ever right now. With Yuki Tsunoda their sole remaining runner in Austria, they finished last.

Tsunoda’s result wasn’t necessarily reflective of his pace. He picked up a 10-second penalty for an incident with Franco Colapinto, but he had been eliminated in Q1 the previous day.

With Verstappen taken out by Kimi Antonelli at the start of the race, Red Bull’s run of 77 races in the points came to an end. They have now fallen 47 points behind third-place Mercedes in the constructors’.

After Liam Lawson failed to score in his two-race stint, Tsunoda has only contributed seven points. With two drivers at that level of production, Christian Horner’s squad would be ninth in the championship – only above Alpine.

Red Bull need to be in the top three to block Max Verstappen’s exit clause

Verstappen’s Red Bull contract runs until the end of 2028, but it includes at least one exit clause. According to Joe Saward, this is connected to the team’s position in the constructors’ championship.

Saward has been ‘asking around’ the paddock ‘for some time’ and learned that the Bulls must be inside the top three by the end of July to nullify Verstappen’s clause.

There are two races remaining before that point – this weekend’s British Grand Prix and the Belgian GP on 27 July. Based on Tsunoda’s current form, it’s highly unlikely that Red Bull make up nearly 50 points on the two teams ahead in that period.

Thus, the Japanese driver may play an accidental role in his teammate’s departure. And Red Bull may suffer an unthinkable blow after failing to halt the cycle of woe in their second seat.

What does Max Verstappen’s Red Bull contract actually say?

It’s worth noting that there is some disagreement as to the exact terms of Verstappen’s contract.

Previous reports claimed Verstappen had to fall outside the top three in the standings to open the exit door. His retirement in Austria saw George Russell, currently P4, pull to within nine points.

But there was talk over the Austria weekend that Verstappen needed to be in the top two to guarantee that he’d stay for 2026. He’s 46 points behind Spielberg winner Lando Norris.

Ultimately, though, Toto Wolff clearly believes he has a chance of signing Verstappen for 2026. If not, the team would have locked in their line-up of Russell and Kimi Antonelli already.

Related Posts

Is This the End of Hamilton’s Ferrari Dream? How Six Months of Silence, Chaos and Secrets May Have Destroyed Everything

Photo: © IMAGO Lewis Hamilton’s underwhelming start to life at Ferrari has been blamed on a key departure from the F1 team. The seven-time world champion made the blockbuster switch…

Shockwaves hit the paddock as Red Bull reveals a game-changing secret plan — one that could shake Mercedes, revive an old rivalry, and force Verstappen into a dramatic career choice.

Red Bull on the Brink: Christian Horner’s McLaren Panic, Verstappen’s Ultimatum, and a Team on the Edge For over a decade, Christian Horner has been the cool,…

Lewis Hamilton didn’t just lose his temper – he delivered a chilling, carefully worded attack on Ferrari’s race engineer that left even his own team speechless. Was it personal? Was it planned? What happened on the radio is only the beginning of a deeper war no one saw coming.

Cracks at the Scuderia: Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari Frustrations Boil Over When Lewis Hamilton announced his shocking move to Ferrari, the world held its breath. It was more…

Toto Wolff’s double play: Verstappen set for Mercedes as rising prodigy Antonelli tipped to join 500+ point team . A masterstroke—or the boldest gamble of Wolff’s career?

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff will have to move either George Russell or Kimi Antonelli aside if he pulls off a move for Max Verstappen. And Antonelli…

Jenson Button breaks his silence with a surprising take on George Russell’s future, revealing a single hope he clings to as rumours swirl around Max Verstappen’s possible Mercedes move. What does he see in Russell that could change everything – or lead to heartbreak for the Silver Arrows?

George Russell is facing enormous uncertainty in Formula 1 as he is yet to sign a contract extension with Mercedes. The Silver Arrows are yet to confirm…

Everyone thought Max Verstappen would never join Mercedes – until a secret meeting changed everything. What Toto Wolff offered him behind closed doors could destroy the team from the inside. George Russell had no idea what was coming, and now everything is falling apart.

Verstappen at the Crossroads: The Mercedes Gambit That Could Reshape Formula 1 As the echoes of the Austrian Grand Prix fade and the anticipation for Silverstone builds,…