If Max Verstappen finishes in the top four of Formula 1's global drivers' championship by the conclusion of the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, a provision in his contract to leave the Red Bull team for 2026 will expire.
Verstappen's current contract has an escape clause that will expire if he maintains a lead of more than 50 points at the end of the Spanish Grand Prix. The 4-time world champion is now in third place in the championship, 57 points ahead of fifth-place Charles Leclerc.
Verstappen's 2028 contract was reportedly renegotiated after Red Bull's power struggle from the previous year had mostly subsided, and the provision that let the 4-time world champion quit the company in the event that adviser Helmut Marko left was revoked.
But as his championship-position-based departure option expires at the end of June, he will no longer have a backdoor to leave if he finishes in the top four drivers overall after the Austrian Grand Prix.
Over the winter, the Dutchman was connected to Aston Martin, where there were rumors of a huge offer from the Silverstone team that made the rounds in the media. But in recent months, these rumors seem to have subsided.
The decline of Aston Martin rumors has been accompanied by the emergence of enduring rumors that Verstappen is thinking about joining Mercedes as his next team. These rumors were stoked by the fact that George Russell's planned renewal took longer than expected.
Verstappen's future with Red Bull, at least for 2026, will be assured with two races remaining if he finishes the Barcelona weekend with a lead of at least 50 points over Charles Leclerc or whoever finishes 5th in the drivers' championship.
With 136 points, Verstappen is presently 3rd in the overall rankings, after Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Leclerc has 79 points, while George Russell has 99, placing him in fourth place.
Regarding Russell's extension, Mercedes insists that everything is going as planned; it has always been anticipated that talks for his new deal will take place "around the Spanish GP." Russell has had a great start to 2025, which has increased his market worth for any further talks with Mercedes.
Toto Wolff, the principal of the Mercedes team, said during the Monaco Grand Prix that he anticipated the negotiations with Russell to be concluded very quickly.
He said that he and George were completely in agreement and knew exactly how things were going to unfold. He said that since they didn't drag the procedure out, there was no such thing as doing so.