P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen’s F1 future decided as Red Bull exit clause detail
Max Verstappen is confirmed to stay with Red Bull for the 2026 F1 season as he can no longer trigger the escape clause in his contract due to his guaranteed top three world championship position during the summer break. Verstappen currently leads the championship by 28 points over Mercedes’ George Russell, making it impossible for him to be surpassed before the break. His contract with Red Bull extends until the end of 2028 with undisclosed mechanisms that could have allowed him to leave earlier. The expiration of the exit clause for Verstappen solidifies his continuation with Red Bull, unless a rival team is willing to pay his rumored €120m release clause. Despite speculation, Verstappen had already decided to stay at Red Bull independent of the exit clause situation, with a potential move in 2027 hinted if Red Bull faces competitiveness issues post-F1 rule changes. Mercedes has ruled out pursuing Verstappen for 2026, focusing on retaining their current driver lineup, which includes out-of-contract Russell and rookie Antonelli staying with the team for at least another season.
