P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Reports from Austria claim that Red Bull have given four-time F1 world champion Max Verstappen an ultimatum to decide on his future.
Red Bull has given Max Verstappen an ultimatum as he contemplates his future in Formula 1, with his contract containing an exit clause which could be activated from July.
The team urgently needs to know if Verstappen will stay for the next two seasons, as his potential departure could prompt the need for a new lead driver and impact key sponsorship deals.
Verstappen is taking his time to make a decision, waiting to see the outcome of the proposed 2027 regulation changes about ICE-electrical power split.
The situation has caused tension at Red Bull, who recently experienced a mass exodus of key personnel, and Verstappen might follow his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase to McLaren.
Speculation suggests a possible swap deal with McLaren for racer Oscar Piastri, but other top teams like Mercedes, Ferrari, and Aston Martin are likely to enter the fray if Verstappen becomes available.
