World Champion Max Verstappen Has An 'Escape Clause' In His New Contract

Max Verstappen is expected to be a Red Bull Racing driver until at least 2027, but it's been confirmed he does have an 'escape clause' that would how allow him to leave earlier.

Verstappen became world F1 champion last year, for the first time, and it was no surprise that Red Bull wanted to snap him up on a long term deal.

The Dutch driver signed a contract until 'beyond his 30th birthday, meaning he's locked in for the next five years, coming at the end of the 2027 season.

With no exact date though, it could actually be longer than that, and they may even try to extend that in the future, but there's still a chance the relationship will end before that.

Team advisor, and head of the team's driver development, Helmut Marko, revealed that a drop in performances could allow for the driver to leave the team.

"Of course. If we experience a 'crash' like in 2014, when we had absolutely no chance against Mercedes on the engine side, then it's clear there is an escape clause," Marko told Formel1.de.

As long as Verstappen keeps winning he's unlikely to want to go anywhere. Image: PA Images

Red Bull really came to the forefront of F1 in 2010, when they won the first of their constructors' world titles, with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber in the car.

Vettel won his first drivers' championship that year too, and both driver and team went on to win four world titles in-a-row, as they dominated the sport.

In 2014 it was then Mercedes turn to take over and, despite Red Bull finishing second, they won the team title by nearly 300 points, as they won all but three Grand Prixs in the season.

They spent seven years not being able to get close to their rivals, who kept winning driver and constructor doubles every time, until last season.

Toto Wolff's team still won the constructors' championship, which is worth millions to the teams, but Verstappen pipped Lewis Hamilton to the drivers' title.

Verstappen is battling with Ferrari and Leclerc this season, not Mercedes and Hamilton. Image: PA Images

Marko actually confirmed how long Verstappen is currently set to stay with the Milton Keynes based team, and explained how important the champion is to the team.

"Max is an important link in the chess game," the 78-year-old added.

"It is not surprising that manufacturers take this into account. It was therefore important for Red Bull to be able to say that we have committed the best driver to our team until 2028.

"If you have someone like Max in the ranks, it has a positive effect on the rest of the team and the team partners."

Already this season Verstappen has shown that he's ready to fight to defend his title, after two ding-dong battles with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.

The Monegasque driver won the first GP of the season, with some help from his rival's car not working at the end, but he was second best to Verstappen at the second race.