Max Verstappen can no longer activate the departure clause from Red Bull for 2026

According to some official information, once Max was ranked 3 pilots during the summer break, it no longer has the opportunity to exercise the clause. After the Belgian big prize, Verstappen has 185 points, and the fourth ranked, George Russell, has 157 points and has no way to overthrow Max on the third position in Hungary – the last race before the summer break.

Max's contract with Red Bull is valid until the end of 2028, but the team has already confirmed several times that there is a possibility that it will leave in advance, under certain conditions. In this case, this is Max's ranking until the summer break – if it had finished outside the Top 3, it would have had this option.

This does not necessarily mean that Max will remain at Red Bull and next year, because a possible future team could pay his termination clause, but according to the Dutch Telegraaf publication, this is not a realistic variant and, in fact, Max has no intention to leave the team of the former world champion.

General ranking at pilots, after the Belgian great prize

1. Oscar Piastri – 266 points
2. Lando Norris – 250
3. Max Verstappen – 185
4. George Russell – 157
5. Charles Leclerc – 139
6. Lewis Hamilton – 109
7. Kimi Antonelli – 63
8. Alexander Albon – 54
9. Nico Hulkenberg – 37
10. Esteban Ocon – 27
11. Isack Hadjar – 22
12. Pierre Gasly – 20
13. Lance Stroll – 20
14. Liam Lawson – 16
15. Fernando Alonso – 16
16. Carlos Sainzz – 16
17. Yuki Tsunoda – 10
18. Oliver Bearman – 8
19. Gabriel Bortleto – 6
20. Franco Colapinto – 0
21. Jack Doohan – 0