Former Formula 1 journalist Will Buxton has highlighted a growing ‘headache’ for Red Bull Racing, stemming from both an abundance of driver talent and the ongoing performance struggles of their 2026 challenger. This situation is compounded by the uncertain future of Max Verstappen, whose contract contains a performance-related exit clause.
Red Bull’s junior programme continues to produce a strong pipeline of drivers. Isack Hadjar, who partners Verstappen at Red Bull Racing this season, has demonstrated competitive pace.
Buxton considers Hadjar to be the most competitive teammate Verstappen has faced since Daniel Ricciardo. Beyond Hadjar, Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad are currently racing for sister team Racing Bulls.
Additionally, Nikola Tsolov leads the Formula 2 standings, having secured three consecutive race victories, including a double win at Silverstone. This creates an oversupply of talent for Red Bull’s four available F1 seats.
David Coulthard, a former F1 driver, has described this situation as a ‘good problem to have’ for the Milton Keynes outfit. However, it presents a complex management challenge for the team’s future driver lineup.
The more pressing concern for Red Bull is the contractual position of Max Verstappen. His deal, which runs until the end of 2028, includes a performance-based exit clause.
This clause allows Verstappen to depart for the 2027 season if he is not within the top two positions in the Drivers’ Championship by the summer break. As of July 7, 2026, Verstappen sits seventh in the standings with 76 points.
With George Russell holding 154 points in second place and Lewis Hamilton third with 147 points, Verstappen cannot mathematically reach the top two by the summer break. This effectively triggers his exit clause for 2027.
Verstappen’s dissatisfaction with the RB22 has been evident throughout the 2026 season. The car has struggled with significant balance issues, including understeer in various cornering speeds and poor tyre management.
Team Principal Laurent Mekies has acknowledged the team is ‘wrestling’ to understand the car’s complex limitations. The RB22 is also reportedly overweight by 6-8kg, costing approximately two-tenths of a second per lap.
Verstappen has been vocal in his criticism, describing the car as ‘undriveable’ and noting that setup changes yield ‘zero difference’. His frustration peaked at Silverstone, where he retired and expressed significant anger over team radio.
The four-time world champion has recorded three retirements, two podiums, and no victories during the current season. This marks a significant downturn in performance for the driver and team.
Despite the activated exit clause, Verstappen’s options for a competitive seat elsewhere appear limited. Toto Wolff has publicly stated Mercedes will not pursue Verstappen for 2027.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has also confirmed that Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will remain with the team. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have secured new multi-year deals with Ferrari.
Verstappen’s manager, Raymond Vermeulen, confirmed the existence of exit clauses but indicated a desire to continue with Red Bull if the team can provide a winning car. Verstappen has also been a vocal critic of the 2026 regulations.
He previously threatened to leave Formula 1 for endurance racing if the sport’s direction did not improve. However, upcoming power unit changes for 2027, shifting to a 60/40 internal combustion to electric split, have offered some hope.
