Actually, Max Verstappen’s whereabouts at Red Bull seems to be almost secure, because a possible exit clause for the Dutchman will become no longer in two races. But as I said: actually. Because Red Bull team boss Christian Horner knows that even a valid contract in Formula 1 is not a 100 percent guarantee.
“Drivers have performance clauses in their contracts, and there are certain times a year – mostly around the summer – to which things like to be happy,” he says. “But I think the relationship with a driver has to go beyond what is on a piece of paper.”
“It’s about the driver’s well -being in the team, his trust in the team,” said Horner. That means: Even if the four -time world champion to Austria should be among the top 4 of the driver’s ranking, which, according to the research of “Motorsport.com Italy”, should be the basic condition, Red Bull Verstappen will hardly be able to hold his will.
Because mechanisms to trigger a contract, there is always – if necessary. The question is therefore: what does Red Bull want? And what does Max want to Verstappen?
The fact that Red Bull would like to have some other than his star pilot was never up for debate, so it depends solely on the will of Verstappen. And in this regard, Horner is not worried: “Max never had any conversations that he could go somewhere else. His obligation is absolutely,” emphasizes the Brit.
Nevertheless, Horner is aware that the team cannot rely solely on the fact that it stays that way. “So for us it is about: How can we improve? How can we get better? And not about what is on a piece of paper,” he says.
“I always think: If you have to rely on a contract, you have a problem. It is about the relationship with the driver and that both sides trust each other.”
Verstappen Treaty with Red Bull officially runs until the end of 2028.