A former Red Bull driver has claimed that Max Verstappen has a second clause in his contract that would allow him to leave his Red Bull contract early.
The reigning world champion seems as though he will be denied his fifth straight title after a disastrous weekend in Austria.
The Dutchman now sits 61 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri after being taken out by Kimi Antonelli on the first lap of the Austrian Grand Prix.
It has been heavily rumoured that if Verstappen is not within the top four of the drivers' championship by the summer break, a clause in his contract will allow him to leave his Red Bull contract early.
Max Verstappen is believed to have a second exit clause in his contract
ReutersNow, former Red Bull driver Robert Doombos has revealed that there is likely a second clause that exists in Verstappen's contract.
He told Ziggo Sport: "The other clause dictates that Verstappen can leave if Red Bull is not in the top three among the Constructors' [Championship].
"Of that I know, it's in there, 100,000 per cent for sure. Because if a team can't deliver more, then a driver can't deliver either."
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Verstappen currently has a contract with Red Bull until 2028. The four-time champion has been linked with a move to Mercedes, with Toto Wolff confirming that he has been speaking to the Dutchman for 2026 and beyond.
The former Red Bull driver addedt: "Those talks with Mercedes are going on, since last year in fact, that is not rocket science,
“Then there is a rest for a while, then there is some more talk. And that George Russell, meanwhile, just has to wait, twiddling his thumbs."
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George Russell is without a contract for 2026
GettyGeorge Russell heads into his home Grand Prix without a contract for 2026 and after a disappointing Austrian Grand Prix where he finished over a minute behind race winner Lando Norris.
Toto Wolff was quizzed after the race about his team’s lineup for 2026.
He said: "You need to be respectable towards the stakeholders in all of that process, the organisation, the drivers, everybody.
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"You need to understand the way forward. I don't want to be sadistic in letting a driver wait or not taking any decisions when it should be taken. I feel we are in a good space. We're [in] June, there are lots of discussions around.
"I've been open with it, transparent. And at a certain stage, in the next couple of months, until the summer break, everything is going to be done."
Toto Wolff is hoping to have his line up sorted in the summer break
GETTYRed Bull will be hoping for a better run of races as they head towards the summer break, if the rumoured contract clauses are true.
While Russell will be hoping to put on a good performance for his home crowd this weekend at Silverstone.
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