MAX CAN GO GO GO WHENEVER HE WANTS

Red Bull deal clause means if mentor Marko quits Verstappen is free to leave

- DANIEL MOXON 

MAX VERSTAPPEN can use his relationship with Red Bull super advisor Helmut Marko to walk away from the team whenever he wants.

The Dutchman has been linked with an exit for months, ever since Red Bull's internal conflict became public.

He has consistently said he has no immediate plans to leave the Formula 1 champions, with whom he has a contract until 2028.

But he has been unsettled ever since civil war broke out between his ally Marko and team principal Christian Horner.

Verstappen is also said to have concerns about how competitive Red Bull's 2026 engines will be compared to those built by more established power unit manufacturers.

Rival F1 teams would fall over themselves to secure the 26-year-old's signature if he became available.

Toto Wolff has already made his intentions clear and has been trying to convince the Red Bull racer to join Mercedes for months.