Verstappen weighs Red Bull exit as chassis flaws cloud engine success

Max Verstappen has until October to decide whether to activate an exit clause in his Red Bull contract, which runs until 2028. The four-time world champion is free to leave at the end of this season after falling outside the top two in the Drivers' Championship following the Hungarian Grand Prix.

His representatives have held talks with McLaren in the past month. For Red Bull, losing its lead driver would be a severe corporate blow to a racing division that has invested heavily in developing its own power unit for the first time.

That in-house engine was recently deemed the best on the grid by the FIA. However, chassis and aerodynamic deficiencies have undermined the technical advantage. Verstappen suffered a rear wing failure and crash at the British Grand Prix, marking the second active aero-related failure in two weeks. Just two races prior in Austria, he was within two seconds of victory before spinning out.

Performance is the main factor in Verstappen's decision. "We're just looking to the future, trying to fix the current issues that we have on the car, but that's a very open discussion," Verstappen said. He noted that while some years are more competitive than others, his working approach with the team remains unchanged.

As Red Bull's lead seat faces uncertainty, rival manufacturers are monitoring their own talent pipelines. Oliver Bearman, the 21-year-old Haas driver, has been linked with Red Bull. Bearman, who does not have a contract for 2027, is currently outperforming team-mate Esteban Ocon.

However, Bearman remains a Ferrari junior, a relationship dating back to 2022 when he joined the Italian marque's academy in Formula 3. Ferrari placed him in a car for his debut at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. "Ferrari have trusted me from the very beginning," Bearman said. "They are really the reason that I'm here right now."

Bearman called the Red Bull rumours "flattering" but emphasised his current focus. "It's just rumours, and I'm fully focused on what I'm doing here with Haas at the moment," he said. His ultimate target remains a seat at Ferrari, though he admitted he is "waiting in the dark" regarding Maranello's long-term plans.