“He Rich”: Max Verstappen’s Red Bull Contract Terms Revealed by Sergio Perez

Red Bull senior advisor Helmut Marko couldn’t quell the renewed speculation about Max Verstappen potentially moving to Mercedes in 2025, nor could he guarantee Sergio Perez’s place on the team.

During the early stages of the 2024 F1 season, rumors of Verstappen’s departure grew louder as Red Bull faced scrutiny after parent company Red Bull GmbH dismissed a case brought against team principal Christian Horner by a fellow employee. These rumors have only intensified since then.

 Helmut Marko Admits to Exit Clauses in Verstappen’s Red Bull Contract

Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, emerged as one of Horner’s harshest critics during the controversy, calling for his departure. Tensions flared again when Jos pulled out of a Legends Parade in Austria, blaming Horner and declaring he was “finished” with him.

According to the German publication Auto Bild, Jos Verstappen would like to see his son join Mercedes in 2025. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has already expressed interest in signing Verstappen as a successor to Lewis Hamilton.

When questioned about the speculation, Marko admitted that Verstappen’s contract includes clauses that allow for a sudden exit under certain conditions.

Mercedes has shown significant improvement in recent rounds, winning consecutive races at the Red Bull Ring and Silverstone, and securing the front row at the latter.

“There are clauses in Max’s contract that make it possible – if certain things happen – to leave the team at any time,” said Marko. Sergio Perez’s Future at Red Bull Also Uncertain

The future of Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Perez, has also been under intense scrutiny, but for different reasons. Despite signing a new multi-year deal, Perez has struggled with performance, suffering three Q1 eliminations in his last five race weekends and failing to reach the podium since April’s Chinese Grand Prix.

Asked by OE24 why Perez is lagging behind Verstappen, Marko revealed, “With all the bad luck he’s had, he’s also mentally battered.”

Perez’s struggles have sparked talks of a potential driver swap during the summer break. PlanetF1.com reports that Perez’s contract includes a clause that could allow Red Bull to make such a move. This clause reportedly depends on Perez being 100 points behind Verstappen at the summer break, with the current gap at 137 points.

Marko hinted at the existence of these contract clauses, further fueling speculation about Perez’s future with the team.

As the F1 season progresses, the futures of both Verstappen and Perez remain uncertain, with contract clauses and team dynamics playing pivotal roles in the unfolding drama.