Helmut Marko has admitted that Max Verstappen has ‘certain clauses’ in his Red Bull contract that could allow him to depart the team, should the reigning world champions fail to produce a race-winning car.
The Milton Keynes-based team are back-to-back constructor champions and dominated the 2023 campaign in unprecedented fashion, winning 21 out of a possible 22 Grands Prix. 19 of those victories went the way of Verstappen as he claimed a third successive Drivers’ Championship title in record-breaking style.
Both the Dutchman and his fans have become accustomed to this extreme level of success, and following a near-faultless pre-season test at the Sakhir International Circuit, Red Bull and Verstappen are well-placed to add to their trophy haul when the 2024 campaign gets underway this weekend.
However, there is no guarantee that this success could last and should Red Bull fail to continue producing race-winning machinery, Verstappen could look elsewhere in motorsport with both endurance racing and GT cars of considerable appeal to the 26-year-old.
Of course, he is interested in success as a driver. Max is not getting any younger. If Max no longer sees a light on the horizon with Red Bull and performance criteria start to play a role, it is clear that he will also start looking around him.”
