April 13th 2025.
There has been quite a buzz in the Formula 1 world lately, as rumors have surfaced that reigning champion Max Verstappen may potentially leave Red Bull at the end of this season. Reports suggest that there is a release clause in his contract, giving him the option to part ways with the team. This news comes as a surprise, considering that Verstappen has been a part of the Red Bull family for over 10 years, having come through their academy and made his debut with their junior team, Toro Rosso.
The partnership between Verstappen and Red Bull has been tremendously successful, with the Dutchman winning the last four drivers' championships and the team claiming the constructors' title in 2022 and 2023. However, there have been some challenges in the past year, including tensions between team principal Christian Horner and Verstappen's father Jos, as well as the departure of design genius Adrian Newey. On top of that, Verstappen has had a tough start to the new season, with his Red Bull RB21 car struggling to keep up with competitors like McLaren.
Despite these setbacks, Verstappen was able to secure a win in Japan and is currently only one point behind championship leader Lando Norris. As we head into the Bahrain Grand Prix, Verstappen will start from seventh on the grid, with Norris in sixth and the other McLaren driver, Oscar Piastri, on pole position.
But if Red Bull fails to make significant improvements to their car, it could potentially trigger Verstappen's release clause, allowing him to leave the team before his contract expires in 2028. According to reports, this clause will become active if Verstappen falls out of the top three in the standings, which has not happened since 2022. If this were to happen, Verstappen could negotiate a move to another team, with Mercedes and Aston Martin being the most likely options.
Despite his success, Verstappen has ruled himself out of the title race this year due to his underperforming car. In an interview, he stated that McLaren is not currently his main rival and that he is just taking part in the world championship. When asked if he sees himself competing for the title, he responded with a firm "no."
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has been a long-time admirer of Verstappen and was even hoping to sign him last year to replace Lewis Hamilton, who had announced his move to Ferrari. However, with young drivers George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli performing well, it is unlikely that either of them will be replaced.
Aston Martin, who had previously signed Newey, is reportedly considering an offer of £1 billion for Verstappen, who would potentially replace two-time champion Fernando Alonso. In terms of betting odds for the Bahrain Grand Prix, Piastri is currently the favorite at 1/3, followed by Norris at 11/2, Russell at 17/2, Leclerc at 14/1, and Verstappen at 25/1, according to Betfair.
It is also worth mentioning that Verstappen's contract is set to expire in 2026, at which point he is expected to retire from racing. Losing him would be a huge blow for Red Bull, as their other drivers have struggled to perform at the same level. Sergio Perez was let go at the end of 2024 and was replaced by Liam Lawson, who was then replaced by Yuki Tsunoda after only two disappointing races. However, Tsunoda also failed to score points in his debut race in Japan last weekend.
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