Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

F1 Today | Marko addresses Verstappen clause as Schumacher predicts Ferrari 'disaster'

22:15, 18 Jan

byTobia Elia

As always, let’s take a look at the two main Formula 1 stories from today, Sunday, January 18.

Marko addresses Verstappen's exit clause amid Red Bull engine uncertainty

Reports from German publication BILD suggest that the four-time world champion could have the option to walk away from his contract at the end of 2026 if he is not at least second in the drivers’ standings by the time the summer break arrives in late July.

Amid ongoing uncertainty over how competitive the Red Bull–Ford power unit will be, such an outcome cannot be completely dismissed, even if any definitive assessment is unlikely to come before pre-season testing — or possibly not until the opening round of the season in Melbourne.

Addressing the speculation in an interview with Austrian broadcaster ORF, Marko was asked directly whether he had been involved in inserting such a clause into the contract, a suggestion he flatly rejected.

Read the full story here.

Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

Schumacher predicts yet another 'disaster' for Ferrari as 2026 season looms

During an appearance on Sky Deutschland’s Backstage Boxengasse podcast, the ex-German driver delivered a stark assessment of Ferrari’s upcoming SF-26, a car scheduled to break cover on January 23, casting serious doubt over the direction of the project.

The comments come with Ferrari on the brink of starting a nineteenth successive season without a world championship, after a campaign that once again ended without a single Grand Prix win for the Maranello squad.

“As for Ferrari, disaster already seems to be looming again, at least reading between the lines. That’s what stands out the most once more. They appear to be developing two different cars. I can almost imagine that this is because Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have completely different views on the car.”

Read the full story here.

Photo: Race Pictures

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