Max Verstappen's father Jos hits back at Red Bull F1 contract claim

Jos Verstappen, the father of four-time Formula 1 champion Max, has hit back at recent claims regarding an exit clause in his son's Red Bull contract.

Max has been heavily linked with a move to Mercedes over the last week or so, and amid the speculation, former F1 driver Robert Doornbos claimed that the Red Bull star has an exit clause in his contract based on the team's performance in the constructors' championship.

Doornbos - who spent one season as a Red Bull test driver back in 2006, told Ziggo Sport that the reported clause was 'one hundred percent' written into his deal, which expires at the end of the 2028 season.

A segment of the interview was posted on their Instagram channel, and Verstappen Sr pulled no punches with his retaliatory comment, writing: “Doornbos is talking like a headless chicken."

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Verstappen-Mercedes speculation mounts

Red Bull currently sit fourth in the constructors' standings, with Verstappen responsible for scoring all but eight of the 162 points gained thus far.

Their chances of regaining their title from McLaren are already all but over with less than half of the season in the books, with last year's champions more than 250 points in front.

He is still in the mix for a fifth consecutive drivers' championship, but has plenty of work to do if he is to achieve that feat, with McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris ahead going into this weekend's British Grand Prix.

Mercedes were linked with the 27-year-old last season as they looked to find a replacement for the Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton, and have emerged as the most likely destination should he decide to move on.

Both Red Bull and Verstappen have consistently reiterated their stance that the Dutchman is simply focused on improving his performances on the track, but that has done little to quell the doubt over where he will be driving in 2026.

READ MORE: F1 Results Today: Verstappen struggles again as championship leaders beaten by home favorite

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