Red Bull has reportedly made its move. With Max Verstappen’s future suddenly looking less certain than at any point since his first championship triumph, the Milton Keynes team is said to have responded by putting a blockbuster contract extension on the table – one that would keep the four-time world champion in Red Bull colours until the end of 2029.
According to a report from German newspaper BILD, the proposed deal would not only extend Verstappen’s stay beyond his current 2028 contract, but would also remove the performance clause that could allow him to walk away before the termination of the new deal.
The timing is impossible to ignore.
Verstappen entered Formula 1’s summer shutdown sixth in the standings, more than 100 points behind championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli, despite producing a remarkable second-place finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Under the terms of his existing contract, he is understood to be free to leave if he is not inside the top two in the championship by the summer break – a condition that, according to BILD, has now been triggered.
The report claims Verstappen has until October to decide whether to activate that exit route, turning the next two months into one of the most intriguing contract standoffs in recent F1 history.
Red Bull’s high-stakes gamble
Red Bull’s answer appears to be simple: make leaving financially and strategically unattractive.
The fresh offer is said to include a substantial salary package and has reportedly been under consideration by Verstappen’s management for several weeks.
If true, it would represent a major show of faith from Red Bull at a time when the Dutchman has been increasingly vocal about his frustrations with the current regulations; the direction of Formula 1 and the performance of his own team.
Speculation over a possible sabbatical has also refused to disappear, adding another layer of uncertainty to the story.
And while Verstappen’s manager Raymond Vermeulen recently insisted that his client intends to honour his existing Red Bull agreement, the emergence of a new long-term proposal suggests the team is not willing to rely on verbal assurances alone.
Fuel has also been added to the fire by growing rumours linking Verstappen with McLaren for 2027. Neither side has publicly entertained the idea, but the possibility of the sport’s biggest star joining one of its fastest teams has become a persistent paddock talking point.
Against that backdrop, Red Bull’s reported offer looks less like routine contract housekeeping and more like a defensive strike aimed at shutting down a potential bidding war before it escalates.
The decision could have significant consequences beyond Verstappen himself.
Is Hadjar’s future with Red Bull secure?
Should Verstappen choose to remain, it would strengthen the likelihood that Isack Hadjar continues alongside him in 2027. The French rookie has impressed in his debut Red Bull campaign and has generally run far closer to Verstappen than many previous teammates managed.
Team principal Laurent Mekies appeared to hint in Hungary that continuity would be the natural outcome.
“It is good news that we have a strong second driver for the first time in quite a long time,” Mekies told De Telegraaf.
“That was also one of our goals prior to this season. Isack is performing solidly and has learned a lot from the team and from Max.”
Mekies also suggested that Verstappen benefits from having a teammate who can operate in a similar performance window.
“And it is good news, also for Max, that our two cars are a bit closer together,” he added.
While stopping short of confirming Hadjar for next year, the Red Bull boss made it clear that the youngster is firmly in the team’s long-term thinking.
“We haven’t discussed the future yet, but everyone can see that Isack is doing an excellent job. So we will make a logical decision.”
The countdown begins
For now, the most important decision remains Verstappen’s. Accept Red Bull’s reported 2029 offer and the reigning champion would effectively commit the prime years of his career to the team that turned him into a superstar.
Reject it, and Formula 1 could be heading toward one of the most explosive driver-market battles of the modern era.
With an activated exit clause, McLaren whispers growing louder and Red Bull reportedly reaching for its checkbook, the paddock’s biggest summer story is no longer whether Verstappen is unhappy. It is whether Red Bull can persuade him that his future still belongs in Milton Keynes.
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