Overview
- Max Verstappen reiterates he intends to honor his Red Bull deal through 2028, ruling out a team switch now.
- Multiple outlets report a performance-based exit clause that could allow Verstappen to leave if he is not at least second by the 2026 summer break.
- Manager Raymond Vermeulen indicates Verstappen’s choice for 2027 will hinge on Red Bull’s 2026 performance.
- Helmut Marko, now retired from his Red Bull advisory role, predicts a Mercedes-powered driver could be champion under the new rules and warns gaps may widen.
- Honda’s Koji Watanabe confirms talks are ongoing with Red Bull over Yuki Tsunoda’s 2026 role, as Red Bull and Racing Bulls reveal only their liveries in Detroit ahead of Barcelona tests starting January 26.