Former Formula 1 driver Riccardo Patrese has advised Max Verstappen to remain with Red Bull Racing, questioning the rationale behind a potential departure from the team. This counsel comes amidst ongoing speculation regarding Verstappen’s future and recent contract developments.
Verstappen is currently under contract with Red Bull until the conclusion of the 2028 season. However, his existing agreement contains a performance-based exit clause. This clause reportedly allows him to leave the team at the end of the 2026 season if he is not positioned within the top two of the Drivers’ Championship by the summer break.
The four-time world champion has experienced a challenging 2026 season, having yet to secure a race victory. Following the recent Hungarian Grand Prix, where he finished second, Verstappen currently sits seventh in the championship standings, more than 100 points adrift of Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli. This performance has reportedly activated the aforementioned exit clause.
In response to this situation, Red Bull has reportedly presented Verstappen with a new contract offer. The proposed deal would extend his tenure with the team until the end of 2029. Crucially, this new agreement is said to include a significant pay increase and would remove the performance-based exit clause from his contract.
Patrese’s perspective emphasizes that while top teams like Ferrari and Mercedes would likely create an opportunity for Verstappen, a move would only be logical if another team could guarantee a superior championship-contending platform. He highlighted Red Bull’s strategic capabilities and questioned the benefit of leaving without a definitively better alternative.
Verstappen has previously voiced his dissatisfaction with the new 2026 F1 regulations, describing the cars as ‘Formula E on steroids’ and ‘anti-Formula 1’. This discontent has contributed to the ongoing discussions surrounding his long-term commitment to the sport and Red Bull.
Despite earlier speculation linking Verstappen to teams such as McLaren, particularly with his long-time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase reportedly moving to the Woking-based squad in 2028, opportunities at rival teams for the 2027 season appear to be diminishing. McLaren and Mercedes are understood to have their driver lineups largely secured for next year.
Raymond Vermeulen, Verstappen’s manager, has publicly stated that his driver intends to fulfill his current contract with Red Bull until 2028. He clarified that the existence of the exit clause does not automatically imply its activation.
For the current 2026 season, Max Verstappen is partnered at Red Bull Racing by Isack Hadjar. Hadjar has demonstrated consistent performance, securing multiple top-six finishes, leading team principal Laurent Mekies to hint at his likely retention for the 2027 campaign.
