Max Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until the end of the 2028 season, but it was confirmed by Helmut Marko that the 27-year-old has a release clause in his contract

Max Verstappen is under contract with Red Bull until 2028(Image: Getty Images)

Helmut Marko has already noted that Max Verstappen has a release clause in his contract, with the Red Bull driver enduring a tumultuous season. While the 27-year-old currently trails behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in the Formula 1 standings, he’s unlikely to be going anywhere soon.

Verstappen, sitting third with only two wins and four podiums under his belt, is contracted with Red Bull until at least 2028. However, if he does miraculously fall down the pecking order of the team, Marko has already revealed that the Dutchman has an escape route – known colloquially as the ‘Marko clause’.

Speaking to Formel1.de back in 2022, he said: “Of course. If we experience a crash like in 2014, when we had absolutely no chance against Mercedes on the engine side, then it’s clear there is an escape clause.”

Nevertheless, it looks like Verstappen’s seat for the foreseeable future remains secure, according to a report from Autosport that claims that his release clause will be nullified if he’s within the top four in the drivers’ standings following the Austrian Grand Prix. With a comfortable lead over fifth-placed Charles Leclerc by a hefty 43 points, it’s looking increasingly unlikely that Verstappen will drop below that crucial threshold.

That’s because he would have to plummet in terms of placement at the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix and the Austrian GP later this month, while Leclerc would have to secure back-to-back victories in both events to overtake him – a tall order given the Ferrari favourite’s lack of wins in 2025 so far.

That said, Verstappen will need to be on top form in Canada and Austria, considering the number of points he has accumulated on his super licence over the past year. The Red Bull ace was given three points for his collision with George Russell in Barcelona recently, bringing his total to 11 out of a possible 12.

Verstappen was frustrated when he was put on hard tyres as the Spanish GP restarted due to a late safety car being deployed to cover Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes. As Leclerc navigated Turn One of the 61st lap, Russell attempted to follow down the inside – but contact saw Verstappen briefly leave the track before returning ahead of the Mercedes driver.

Helmut Marko admitted Verstappen has a release clause(Image: Getty)

Race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase then instructed Verstappen to let Russell pass, an instruction met with disagreement from the driver. While it appeared as though Verstappen was allowing Russell to overtake on Turn Five, he then collided with his rival.

Despite both drivers emerging from the clash with minimal damage, Verstappen was slapped with a 10-second penalty for the tangle, leaving him to ultimately finish in a disappointing 10th place. After the race, Ralf Schumacher claimed that Verstappen might have deliberately collided with Russell to help activate his release clause.

With just one more penalty point in the next two races, Verstappen faces a one-race suspension, which could be a significant setback. Schumacher said: “You have to pay attention to why things like this happen and why he gets an unnecessary penalty if there is a clause. It’s a critical phase.”

Ralf Schumacher suggested Verstappen crashed into Russell with his release clause in mind(Image: Getty)

However, Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner quickly dismissed Schumacher’s speculation as rubbish, staunchly backing his driver. He told BILD: “I haven’t heard anything so stupid for a long time. Max is a racer through and through. He always wants to win and would never act like that.”

Despite the current season’s ups and downs, it appears Verstappen is set to stay with the team until at least 2026, which may work in his favour given Russell’s likely continuation with Mercedes and Aston Martin’s focus on upcoming regulatory changes. Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso is rumoured to hang up his helmet after the 2026 season – something which could potentially pave the way for Verstappen to switch teams.

This would give him the benefit of witnessing the unfolding of the regulations before making his decision. Earlier this year, a report from La Gazzetta dello Sport also suggested that Aston Martin were assembling a whopping £220million deal to pry him away from Red Bull.