Max Verstappen has four years remaining on his contract with Red Bull, but he reportedly has two ways he could leave the team before then with the Dutchman being linked to Mercedes.
Lewis Hamilton's announcement that he plans to join Ferrari in 2025 sent shockwaves up and down the grid and is set to shake up the sport next year.
More than half the grid are out of contract at the end of the year with Verstappen one of a few who are tied down to deals already.
But Hamilton's imminent departure from Mercedes has highlighted how regular exit clauses are in F1 contracts.
Max Verstappen has a couple of ways he could leave Red Bull
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Teams usually wait until drivers are free agents to fill their seat, but exceptions are made if an opportunity arises.
Mercedes have plenty of time to figure out who they want to replace Hamilton and Toto Wolff has not ruled out a shock move for Verstappen.
The three-time world champion already has a previously reported exit clause in his contract pertaining to Red Bull's performance.
If Red Bull are unable to give Verstappen a competitive car then he supposedly has the option to look elsewhere.
Wolff was spotted in conversation with Jos Verstappen last week, who himself made headlines for his comments on Horner.
The former F1 driver claimed Horner's position at Red Bull is now 'untenable' following the investigation, despite the 50-year-old being cleared of any wrongdoing.
Red Bull will be desperate to steady the ship and their performance on track last week in Bahrain offered some respite.
However, reports of unrest at Red Bull are refusing to go away and Verstappen reportedly has another way of leaving the team before the end of his contract in 2028.
According to F1 Insider, Verstappen would be able to leave the Milton Keynes-based team if Helmut Marko walks away.
The 80-year-old was key to giving Verstappen a seat at Red Bull as a 17-year-old and the pair have a strong working relationship.
Helmut Marko is close with Max Verstappen
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Marko has already stated that he won't "stand in the way" of Verstappen should he push to leave Red Bull.
He's convinced there have been discussions between Verstappen and Mercedes already relating to the 2025 seat.
“I would be surprised if they hadn't,” he said.
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Max Verstappen's future is under question due to the Christian Horner saga
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“But Max is a very loyal driver.”
Marko only just signed a new deal with Red Bull to keep him with the team until the end of the 2026 season.
But former F1 diver Gerhard Berger believes the Red Bull advisor will ultimately quit amid the current chaos at Red Bull.
He said: “As of now: Horner stays, Helmut Marko and Adrian Newey quit and Max goes to Mercedes.”
