Max Verstappen escape route highlighted: 'Always a way out'

Former F1 engineer Bernie Collins has weighed in on Max Verstappen's contract extension with Red Bull, insisting there is “always a way out” of such deals.

Verstappen's future has been the topic of mass speculation this year amid Red Bull's slip in the pecking order.

However, ahead of last weekend's Dutch Grand Prix, Red Bull communicated that it had agreed an extension with the four-time champion, retaining his services until at least the end of the 2030 campaign.

But Collins insisted that it will be a formality for the contract to include options that will allow Verstappen to leave early.

“Any contract, there's always a way out,” Collins told the Sky F1 podcast.

“Especially for a team and a driver, if the driver doesn't want to drive, if Max decides he doesn't want to drive and he wants to leave, there is no point in keeping them.

“You're not going to get the best out of them, and you're paying them an extortionate amount of money to not get the best out of them. 

“The contract will 100 per cent have a written-in clause to get out of it.”

Verstappen's previous deal also had an escape clause in the contract, which reportedly would have allowed him to leave at the end of 2026.

But having renewed his commitment, Collins insisted there is no guarantee he won't change his mind.

“But also, we all know that the world revolves around money. So, if Max wants to get out, or another team wants him, there will be a number that can make that happen for 2030 regardless of what's written in the contract. 

“So I know we put a lot of emphasis on it, and it is a good sign of his commitment to the future. 

“But all of these things, there's always a way out. 

“If he's not happy next year, if he doesn't see the sport going in the right direction, or he doesn't see the engine improvements making a difference, he still has the ability to walk away from that.”