Exit clause in new Verstappen deal revealed
Max Verstappen doesn't blame Kimi Raikkonen for their crash on the opening lap in Spa.
Helmut Marko has revealed there is an exit clause in Max Verstappen’s new Red Bull deal should Honda leave Formula 1.
Honda are currently committed to just one more season in Formula 1 as we near the reset button being hit in 2021 with wholesale technical regulation changes to the sport.
Should they decide to call it quits, that, according to Marko, creates a potential scenario where Verstappen is free to leave the team despite signing a new three-year contract extension until the end of 2023 in January.
“Generally speaking, it is a fixed contract and if everything goes in the right direction there will be no problems Marko told Motorsport-Magazin.com.
“We have a contract with Honda until 2021, but obviously being without an engine for the future it would complicate all our plans.
“Consequently, it is clear that we need a competitive engine to keep hold of Verstappen.”
Exit clauses usually bring an element of uncertainty to a driver’s future with a Formula 1 team, but Marko has said that Verstappen’s new deal still brings stability to all parties.
“We are however satisfied because this contract gives stability to the whole team and an incredible motivation,” Marko added.
“Our big goal for Max, who also started with us in Formula 1, is to make him the youngest world champion and is also fully shared by Honda.”
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