Max Verstappen has spoken out to address rumours that there is a secret exit clause included in his contract with the Red Bull Formula One team.
Verstappen has been linked with a move away from Red Bull recently amid drama within the team and disappointing results on track.
Despite winning seven of the first 10 races this season, it has now been four months since his last win at the Spanish Grand Prix on June 23.
And now the reigning Formula One champion has reacted to the rumours with a cryptic response.
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When asked by Sky Sports if the rumours about the exit clause were true shortly after the Singapore GP, the Dutch driver kept his cards close to his chest.
"Maybe yes or maybe no,” he cryptically replied.
“I'm not thinking about this at the moment, because there are so many things this year that I want to try to understand and do better than in the years to come.
“What will happen next is still far away for me. So I don't have it in my head at the moment."
Helmut Marko, director of the Red Bull Formula One teams and head of driver development, later confirmed that the exit clause was performance-related and depended on if Red Bull could deliver a race-winning car to the 27-year-old.
And when Verstappen was asked if he would swap teams should the reigning constructors champions fail to adapt to the
changes to the engine regulations in 2026, he gave a further insight into his thoughts.
"For my part, I think I've already been in this team for a long time,” he said.
“Then clearly people always want to win, everyone in the paddock wants to win.
“So you can very easily switch from one side to the other over the years.
“But I don't want to let my career in F1 be like this, I don't want to be part of four or five teams.
“I want to build a long and stable and beautiful relationship with everyone within the team and to feel at home.
“Changing teams often is not good for me also, something that I don't want to do at this stage of my career.
“My next step, if ever, will be my last step.
“But the next step could also be the renewal with the team. It's all up in the air at the moment."
Topics: Max Verstappen, Helmut Marko, Formula 1, Red Bull Racing
Ben McCrum