Max Verstappen Offered Massive Red Bull Pay Raise to Delete His Exit Clause

Max Verstappen is already firmly locked into a long-term contract with Red Bull Racing that runs through the end of 2028. However, amid a chaotic 2026 silly season fueled by internal team politics and public flirtations from Mercedes, rumors of a potential performance-based exit clause have loomed over the Milton Keynes garage all year.

Now, it appears Red Bull’s upper management is ready to throw a massive amount of cash at the problem to ensure their star driver has no legal avenues to jump ship.

According to a recent report originating from the German outlet BILD, Red Bull and Verstappen’s management are actively engaged in contract extension talks.

The rumored deal on the table would extend Verstappen’s tenure with the team through the 2029 season. To sweeten the pot, Red Bull is reportedly offering a significant pay bump on top of his current base salary, which already sits at a staggering €65 million (roughly $71 million) per year.

But the massive financial upgrade comes with one major condition: the new contract would completely eliminate any existing exit clauses.

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – JULY 26: Second placed Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates with teammates during the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on July 26, 2026 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202607270320 // Usage for editorial use only //

Throughout the 2026 campaign, paddock insiders speculated that Verstappen’s camp had cleverly woven specific exit clauses into his existing 2028 deal. These clauses would theoretically allow the Dutchman to walk away if the team’s performance dropped below a certain championship threshold leading up to the summer break.

By offering a highly lucrative extension that deliberately omits these trapdoors, Red Bull is essentially trying to buy out Verstappen’s ultimate leverage.

Despite the massive financial incentive, the BILD report notes that Verstappen is in absolutely no rush to sign the paperwork. His management team has reportedly held the offer for several weeks, fully aware that they hold the upper hand in negotiations.

With Mercedes solidifying their lineup, Red Bull remains Verstappen’s most logical home. The only question now is exactly how much it will cost the team to officially lock the exit door.