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F1 trades: Verstappen get out clause sparks crisis talks
SEN • April 15th, 2025 11:54 am
Red Bull are reportedly holding crisis talks with Max Verstappen amid reports of a performance “get-out clause” in the four-time world champion’s contract.
Verstappen finished a disappointing sixth in the Bahrain Grand Prix at the weekend and sits third in the championship standings - eight points behind leader Lando Norris.
With just one win to his name so far this season, the BBC reports that should Red Bull not get him back on top of the podium, he could pull the trigger on a get out clause in the coming months.
While the wording of the clause remains confidential, it has been widely speculated that if he falls out of the top three in the world standings, he has the green light to look for opportunities elsewhere.
Even a normally stoic Red Bull director Helmut Marko admits he is worried for his star’s future with the team.
“The concern is great," he told the BBC. "Improvements have to come in the near future so that he has a car with which he can win again.
“We have to create a basis with a car so that he can fight for the world championship.”
As things stand, Verstappen is contracted until 2028 but he has made his frustrations with the car known for some time.
Balance issues have been the top complaint this season which reflect the same problems the Red Bull endured in the back end of 2024.
Verstappen won just two races in the last 13 of last season but still managed to retain the championship.
Rumours of his dissatisfaction with the team were compounded by images of his father Jos involved in what appeared to be a very heated discussion with Marko after the race in Bahrain.
So where might the champion look?
With Adrian Newey - the brains behind all four of Verstappen’s title winning cars - now at Aston Martin, the British outfit could appeal.
Meanwhile, Mercedes boss Toto Wolf has made no secret of his desire to sign the Dutchman.
