Max Verstappen in talks for lucrative new Red Bull contract
Red Bull have reportedly tabled a lucrative new contract for Max Verstappen that would keep the four-time world champion at Milton Keynes until the end of 2029, reports BritPanorama.
The proposed deal, first reported by German publication Bild, is said to be worth approximately $80 million per season — a notable increase on his current annual earnings of around €65 million. However, the offer comes with one crucial stipulation: Red Bull want the Dutchman’s existing performance-based exit clause scrapped entirely as part of the restructured terms.
Senior figures within the team, including Laurent Mekies and sporting director Oliver Mintzlaff, are understood to be driving the contract renegotiation. The financial package would make Verstappen one of the highest-paid athletes in global motorsport, but the removal of his escape route is clearly the priority for Red Bull’s hierarchy.
Verstappen’s 2026 campaign has been a stark departure from his dominant championship-winning years. The Dutchman is yet to taste victory this season and sits seventh in the drivers’ standings. His strongest result came at last weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, where he crossed the line in second — matching his best finish of the year. That lowly championship position is precisely what has activated his contractual leverage.
The exit clause embedded in his current deal becomes valid if Verstappen finds himself outside the top three in the standings following the Hungary race. With that threshold now comfortably breached, he is reportedly entitled to walk away from Red Bull ahead of the 2027 season. The October deadline gives him several months to weigh his options.
Despite the eye-watering sums on offer, Verstappen appears in no hurry to put pen to paper. His management team has reportedly sat on the proposal for several weeks without providing a formal response, fully conscious of the negotiating power they currently hold. Red Bull’s leadership would prefer a swift resolution, eager to eliminate the uncertainty that has shadowed the team throughout the season.
Yet Verstappen’s realistic alternatives appear to be narrowing. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff recently signalled that the Silver Arrows are committed to their current pairing of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, effectively shutting the door on any near-term move to Brackley. McLaren had also been linked with interest in the Dutchman.
Despite the silence, indications suggest Verstappen is inclined to remain with Red Bull, with both camps said to be in continuous dialogue behind the scenes. Verstappen himself has played down any suggestion of turmoil, recently referring to the team in warm terms. “This team is like a second family to me,” he said, adding: “I am feeling good from my side. I’m saying that there is nothing to say because there is nothing going on.”
He insisted his attention remains firmly on extracting performance from a challenging car. “We’re just trying to understand our car a bit better and, of course, get back to winning ways,” he said. “It’s definitely on an upward trend. So that’s good.”
The clock is nonetheless ticking. Verstappen has until October to decide whether to trigger his exit clause or commit to Red Bull’s revised terms, and the team are keen to settle matters well before that deadline arrives. In the world of motorsport, where decisions can transform fortunes, the next few months loom large as a pivotal moment for both Verstappen and Red Bull.
