Max Verstappen is already firmly locked right into a long-term contract with Crimson Bull Racing that runs by the tip of 2028. Nonetheless, amid a chaotic 2026 foolish season fueled by inside crew politics and public flirtations from Mercedes, rumors of a possible performance-based exit clause have loomed over the Milton Keynes storage all yr.
Now, it seems Crimson Bull’s higher administration is able to throw a large amount of money on the downside to make sure their star driver has no authorized avenues to leap ship.
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In line with a latest report originating from the German outlet BILD, Crimson Bull and Verstappen’s administration are actively engaged in contract extension talks.
The rumored deal on the desk would lengthen Verstappen’s tenure with the crew by the 2029 season. To sweeten the pot, Crimson Bull is reportedly providing a major pay bump on high of his present base wage, which already sits at a staggering €65 million (roughly $71 million) per yr.
However the large monetary improve comes with one main situation: the brand new contract would fully get rid of any present exit clauses.
Crimson Bull, Max Verstappen
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – JULY 26: Second positioned Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Crimson Bull Racing celebrates with teammates throughout the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on July 26, 2026 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photograph by Mark Thompson/Getty Photographs) // Getty Photographs / Crimson Bull Content material Pool // SI202607270320 // Utilization for editorial use solely //
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Crimson Bull Shopping for Out the Escape Route
All through the 2026 marketing campaign, paddock insiders speculated that Verstappen’s camp had cleverly woven particular exit clauses into his present 2028 deal. These clauses would theoretically permit the Dutchman to stroll away if the crew’s efficiency dropped beneath a sure championship threshold main as much as the summer time break.
By providing a extremely profitable extension that intentionally omits these trapdoors, Crimson Bull is actually making an attempt to purchase out Verstappen’s final leverage.
Regardless of the huge monetary incentive, the BILD report notes that Verstappen is in completely no rush to signal the paperwork. His administration crew has reportedly held the supply for a number of weeks, totally conscious that they maintain the higher hand in negotiations.
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Nonetheless, Verstappen’s different choices are quickly shrinking. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff just lately indicated that the Silver Arrows are at the moment centered on a driver pairing of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, seemingly closing the door on a Verstappen defection to Brackley within the close to future.
With Mercedes solidifying their lineup, Crimson Bull stays Verstappen’s most sensible residence. The one query now’s precisely how a lot it should value the crew to formally lock the exit door.
