Max Verstappen Inserted 'Secret Clause' Into Contract Red Bull Had No Idea About

Max Verstappen's Red Bull contract contained more than one exit clause - one of which has now been removed.

Verstappen narrowly missed out on his fifth Drivers' Championship at Abu Dhabi on Sunday, despite winning the final Grand Prix of the season.

The Dutchman won the race ahead of McLaren pair Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, with Norris winning his maiden title by two points ahead of Verstappen.

The result means Verstappen will have to part company with the driver number one that has adorned his cars ever since he won his first title in 2021.

There will also be change behind-the-scenes next season, with Helmut Marko departing his role as advisor to Red Bull Racing after 21 years.

The Austrian, 82, was one of the first arrivals at Red Bull after they took over Jaguar at the end of 2004, and has played a key role in Verstappen's development as a junior driver and then throughout his time in F1.

In March of last year, Verstappen claimed he would consider quitting the team if Marko was suspended over allegations that he had leaked information to the media. The Austrian ultimately avoided punishment.

Marko shares a close relationship with Verstappen and his family - with it being reported last year that the Dutchman had an exit clause in his contract that would allow him to depart Red Bull alongside Marko.

While initially, it was only reports that indicated that was indeed the case, Marko himself admitted the existence of the clause in December 2024 - while confirming it had been removed.

He told De Telegraaf (via Motorsport Week): "The clause was changed or removed to lay a foundation for a successful company for the near future.

"He [Verstappen] is one of the greatest sportsmen in the world, earns a lot of money, but above all he sticks to his principles.

"That hasn't changed since he was 14 years old."

According to Motorsport.com, via sources, the Marko clause was inserted by both Verstappen and Marko unilaterally - after his original contract was signed in 2022.

It is claimed that this was done without either the knowledge of Red Bull's F1 team or then-team principal Christian Horner.

The report adds that Marko was able to negotiate the clause on the team's behalf in his role as a director of Red Bull Racing.

Significantly, it has previously been clarified by Horner that Marko's employment is with Red Bull GmbH, the racing team's parent company, not the F1 team itself.

SPORTbible has contacted Red Bull for comment.

Red Bull managing director Oliver Mintzlaff wrote a joint statement, alongside Red Bull F1 team principal Laurent Mekies, announcing Marko's exit.

Mintzlaff said that Marko's exit was the Austrian's decision, and wrote: "I deeply regret his decision, as he has been an influential figure for more than two decades, and his departure marks the end of an extraordinary era.

"Over more than 20 years, Helmut has earned incomparable merits for our team and the entire Red Bull motorsport family.

"He played a decisive role in all key strategic decisions that made Red Bull Racing what it is today: a multiple world champion, an engine of innovation, and a cornerstone of international motorsport."