Red Bull boss Helmut Marko revealed world champion Max Verstappen has a sensational escape clause in his new bumper £40 million-a-year F1 contract.
The Dutchman claimed his maiden world title last year in dramatic and controversial scenes on the final lap of the last race in Abu Dhabi. After clashing with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton on a number of occasions throughout the season, Verstappen won his duel with the Brit to emerge triumphant.
As a reward for his successful 2021 campaign, Verstappen was awarded a new deal that sees him earn £40m each year and ties him to Red Bull until after his 30th birthday. However, Marko has admitted the 24-year-old had a release clause inserted to ensure the team have an incentive to build a competitive car.
Marko, Red Bull’s chief advisor, announced Verstappen has an escape clause if there is a drop in performance, or ‘crash’, similar to 2014. After winning four straight world titles, Red Bull failed to keep up with Mercedes as F1 entered a new era - and the Silver Arrows went on to dominate for the rest of the decade.
“Of course. If we experience a ‘crash’ like in 2014, when we had absolutely no chance against Mercedes on the engine side, then it’s clear there is an escape clause,” Marko told Formel1.de.
“Max is an important link in the chess game. It is not surprising that manufacturers take this into account.
“It was therefore important for Red Bull to be able to say that we have committed the best driver to our team until 2028. If you have someone like Max in the ranks, it has a positive effect on the rest of the team and the team partners.”
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Judging from the first two races of the season, it appears it is Mercedes who should be concerned about any drops in performance as both Red Bull and Ferrari seem to be far quicker than the German manufacturers. Ferrari star Charles Leclerc won the season opener in Bahrain while both Red Bull cars failed to finish.
Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez suffered engine issues in the final few laps and ultimately failed to finish the race. Mercedes duo Hamilton and George Russell benefited, with the 37-year-old stealing a podium while Russell nicked P4.
However, Verstappen returned to form in Saudi Arabia as he sealed his first win of the year at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, expertly battling Leclerc to the chequered flag. Mercedes fared a little worse, with Russell and Hamilton placing fifth and 10th respectively.
The 22-race 2022 campaign - which is expected to return to 23 races in the near future once a Russian Grand Prix replacement is found - continues with the Australian Grand Prix on April 10.
