Max Verstappen is definitively locked into his Red Bull Racing contract for the 2026 Formula 1 season.
The highly scrutinised performance clause, which could have allowed him to leave, has officially been rendered moot.
Information obtained by Autosport last year revealed this significant clause.
It stipulated that if the Dutchman found himself outside the top three in the Drivers' Championship at a specified reference point, the traditional F1 summer shutdown, he would be allowed to explore an early exit.
Speculation linking Verstappen to Mercedes, particularly after Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari, has dominated headlines.
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff had openly courted Verstappen, fuelling whispers of a sensational switch.
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A strong performance at last weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, however, including a Sprint Race victory, solidified Verstappen's championship position.
He currently sits third with 185 points, behind McLaren's Oscar Piastri (266 points) and Lando Norris (250 points).
Crucially, fourth-placed George Russell of Mercedes is on 157 points.
With only the Hungarian Grand Prix remaining before the summer break, and a maximum of 25 points available for a race win, Russell simply cannot bridge the gap to Verstappen.
Even if Russell were to win and Verstappen failed to score, the Dutchman's current advantage ensures he will remain firmly within the top three.
This mathematical certainty means the much-discussed performance clause will not be triggered. For Red Bull, it brings immense relief and stability, confirming their retention of their four-time world champion as they head into a pivotal period of development for the radically new 2026 regulations.
For Mercedes, it definitively closes the door on their ambitious pursuit of the Dutchman, likely paving the way for confirmation of George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli as their 2026 driver pairing.
The F1 world can now shift its focus away from contract speculation and back to the on-track action, with the immediate future of its biggest star secured.
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