Ex Formula 1 driver expects the Verstappen camp to have a plan to leave Red Bull

Things are far from ideal for Red Bull this Formula 1 season, with issues both on and off the track. Former driver Robert Doornbos, who once raced at the Austrian outfit, believes Max Verstappen and his management may be working on a revised contract with new clauses — potentially giving the Dutchman an escape route should Red Bull’s fortunes continue to decline.

Earlier, GPblog reported that Verstappen’s current exit clause binds him to the team for the remainder of the season. The clause stipulated that he had to be at least third in the standings; otherwise, the contract could be terminated. With Verstappen currently sitting in third place, an immediate departure is now off the table. However, Doornbos suggests that this could change next year if circumstances shift.

Red Bull to mid-field or rear?

“Max Verstappen’s contract runs until 2028, so every year now, Red Bull will be like Is he leaving or is he not leaving?" Doornbos started when asked about the contract situation at Red Bull on the Pit Talk Podcast. "If Max were not there, and you added another Yuki-type driver — and Yuki is a great driver, but he's not a Max Verstappen — you would have a team running in the midfield or even at the back.”

Doornbos has expressed concern for the team he once raced for. As for whether Verstappen can leave, that ultimately depends on the exit clauses — a standard feature in the contracts of all top drivers.

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Verstappen and management smart enough

Doornbos expects that Verstappen's camp will ensure that the clauses will change, so that a switch to a team will become easier later. "I think Max will be smart enough or his management to update some performance classes in the contract instead of saying okay, if I'm still on the top 3 I can leave no next year if I'm not in the top 2 before the summer break, I can leave some of those performance classes will be adjusted from Max’s side."

There is already plenty of uncertainty surrounding Red Bull’s future in 2026. Things are difficult enough now, but soon the team will also be introducing its own engine. “Red Bull are huge in making energy drinks, and they're probably the best in the world at dominating that market. They’re also very good at building a fast Formula 1 chassis, but they are not a car manufacturer, so the Achilles’ heel has always been the engine.”

“But now, the new generation is here — the Red Bull Powertrains project with Ford support. You know, how good is it going to be? As a privateer team building their own engine, it’s a big challenge. Most privateer teams just buy an engine from a manufacturer. ...I think that’s a very bold and very cool way of looking at it — and an expensive way too — but it’s very uncertain whether this engine will be the best on the grid.”