Max Verstappen is said to have an exit clause at Red Bull if Helmut Marko leaves the team – Sergio Perez does not have this loophole in his contract
The affair surrounding team boss Christian Horner has led to further trench warfare at Red Bull. Max Verstappen is even said to have an exit clause in his contract that would allow him to leave Red Bull should Helmut Marko leave the team. But does Sergio Perez also have such a clause in his contract?
“I don’t have that clause,” clarifies the Mexican, who is also fighting to stay with Formula 1’s top team beyond 2025. “I don’t know what clause Max has in his contract. You have to ask him. Max has a contract with the team and is fully committed. I can’t comment on the rest, it’s none of my business.”
One thing is clear: Perez would be contractually bound to Red Bull even if Helmut Marko were to leave, but things could be different for Verstappen. “I am fully focused on my decisions and my job,” Perez clarifies. “I don’t see the point in talking about other drivers if we don’t know the facts and that’s the case here. “
Perez sees Red Bull in a good position
But how would Perez react if the Formula 1 world champion actually pulled the ripcord and turned his back on Red Bull? The experienced 34-year-old does not believe that this scenario will happen: “The team is in a good position because we are achieving the results at the moment and have good harmony in the racing team. It will probably take many years to achieve that.”
“The dynamic in the team is good, we work very well together,” Perez makes clear. The engineers and mechanics have worked well together and act as a unit, which is why Red Bull dominates in Formula 1. The results prove the Mexican right: Verstappen was the clear world champion in 2023 with 23 victories – including sprint races.
Perez won three races and finished second in the world championship. Only two race wins went to other teams: Carlos Sainz won in Singapore and Oscar Piastri in the sprint race in Qatar. “You can see on the track how efficient we were last year,” says Perez. “I see no reason to change that. “
Verstappen’s departure would be a blow
However, the Mexican is certain that if Verstappen were to leave, it would not leave Red Bull unscathed: “If Max were to leave, it would be a hard blow for the team.” The case of Lewis Hamilton, who will surprisingly be racing for Ferrari in 2025, shows how quickly a top driver can switch sides. The Briton also has an exit clause in his Mercedes contract, which made the switch possible.
In the 2024 Formula 1 season, Verstappen will continue exactly where he left off despite the crises. The Dutchman won the first two races, but retired in Melbourne due to a technical defect. Perez finished second twice and fifth in Australia. This puts him third in the overall standings behind Charles Leclerc. Verstappen leads the world championship
