Max Verstappen will see a three-month window to trigger a release clause in his Red Bull contract later this year, following a lacklustre run of form this season. The 28-year-old has been incredibly vocal of his frustrations in 2026, as the FIA have hit teams with a number of new rules and regulations to adhere to.

In the wake of Sunday’s eighth-place fininsh at the Japanese Grand Prix, Verstappen even admitted that he is considering his future in the sport. While a number of drivers have admitted their distaste for the new regulations, which have increased the importance of battery, very few have gone as far as Verstappen in their public lambasting. Speaking with BBC Sport on Sunday, the Dutch-Belgian said: “I’m thinking about everything inside this paddock.

“Privately I’m very happy. You also wait for 24 races. This time it’s 22. But normally 24. And then you just think about is it worth it? Or do I enjoy being more at home with my family? Seeing my friends more when you’re not enjoying your sport?”

He added: “I can easily accept to be in P7 or P8 where I am. Because I also know that you can’t be dominating or be first or second or whatever, fighting for a podium every time. I’m very realistic in that and I’ve been there before.

“I’ve not only been winning in F1. But at the same time when you are in P7 or P8 and you are not enjoying the whole formula behind it, it doesn’t feel natural to a racing driver. Of course I try to adapt to it, but it’s not nice the way you have to race.

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“It’s really anti-driving. Then at one point, yeah, it’s just not what I want to do. And of course you can look at it and make a lot of money. Great. But at the end of the day it’s not about money any more because this has always been my passion.”

While Verstappen is contracted with Red Bull until 2028, executives will be fully aware of a loophole in his deal which could allow him to leave early. Should he rank third or lower in the drivers’ standings at the time of the summer break, he will have a right to rip up his contract.

That reality is far from a stretch at present, considering Verstappen currently sits a lowly ninth in the standings after three races without a win or podium to his name. However, The Race claim that Verstappen will have to inform Red Bull of his desire to leave the team by October at the latest.

Given that the F1 will see a break next month as a result of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix being cancelled, April will provide Verstappen with plenty of time to reflect on his future. Up next for the banner is the Miami Grand Prix, which falls on Sunday, May 3 at the Miami International Autodrome.

Kimi Antonelli currently tops the drivers’ standings thanks to back-to-back wins in China and Japan, and will hope his emphatic run of form carries over into May. His Mercedes team-mate, George Russell also sits second in the standings, thanks to his win in Australia as well as podiums in China and Japan.

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari, as well as defending champion Lando Norris of McLaren, make up the rest of the top five. While Verstappen has plenty of time to make a mark of his own this season and challenge for a fifth world championship, only time will tell if he is able to conquer the task of playing by the FIA’s newest set of rules.