Max Verstappen’s contract with Red Bull now formally includes an activated exit clause for the 2027 Formula 1 season. This development follows his retirement from the recent British Grand Prix.
The clause permits Verstappen to depart if he is not within the top two positions in the Drivers’ Championship by the summer break. With only two races remaining before the break, he cannot mathematically achieve this target.
Verstappen currently holds seventh place in the standings with 76 points. George Russell, in second position, has accumulated 154 points, making it impossible for Verstappen to close the 78-point gap.
Speculation regarding Verstappen’s future has intensified, with McLaren emerging as a potential destination. Reports indicate that discussions between Verstappen’s representatives and McLaren were initiated last week.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has publicly stated that the team has had ‘no conversations’ with Verstappen. Brown maintains satisfaction with the current driver lineup of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Oscar Piastri signed a multi-year extension with McLaren in March 2025, securing his position until at least the end of the 2028 season. Piastri has affirmed his commitment to the Woking-based team.
Despite this, reports from Brazil suggest Piastri is considering activating an exit clause in his contract for the end of the current season. This alleged clause is performance-based.
Piastri is currently sixth in the Drivers’ Championship with 82 points, 15 points behind his teammate Norris. Sources close to Piastri have dismissed these performance clause reports as speculative.
A further element in the transfer market is the confirmed move of Gianpiero Lambiase, Verstappen’s long-time race engineer, to McLaren by 2028. This move could influence Verstappen’s future decisions.
Other top teams appear to have solidified their driver lineups for 2027. Mercedes has George Russell and Kimi Antonelli confirmed, while Ferrari retains Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
Mercedes reportedly declined to pursue Verstappen for 2027 due to his preference for a three-year contract, which conflicted with their strategy of shorter driver agreements.
