Nico Rosberg Exposes ‘Trigger’ That Forced Max Verstappen to Stay at Red Bull

Nico Rosberg pondered over the reasons that triggered Max Verstappen to continue racing for Red Bull despite failing performances.

Nico Rosberg Exposes ‘Trigger’ That Forced Max Verstappen to Stay at Red Bull

Nico Rosberg and Max Verstappen (images via IMAGO)

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Max Verstappen has officially confirmed his decision to continue his career at Red Bull, atleast for the 2026 season, amid incessant exit rumors. The Dutchman is suffering from woeful performances with the Austrian outfit as he seems unable to fight for race wins. Despite the tumultuous state of the team, Verstappen maintained confidence in Milton Keynes and will keep racing for the outfit. As such, 2016 F1 champion Nico Rosberg revealed the reasons behind the 27-year-old’s continuation.

Max Verstappen had an alleged performance exit clause in his contract that allowed him to leave Red Bull scot-free if he fell below P3 in the drivers’ title standings. However, with the summer break nearing, and Verstappen still being in third place, he won’t be able to leave on that clause anymore. Moreover, the 27-year-old officially confirmed that he’s here to stay at the Austrian outfit at least for the coming season.

Nico Rosberg weighed in on the news of Max Verstappen’s continuation at Red Bull. Rosberg asserted that it was nice to finally have some clarity on Verstappen’s decision in the teams for the coming season. The Briton added that the speculations around the exit clause were continuing to grow in number as the 27-year-old’s final decision would now calm the situation on the drivers’ lineup of rival teams.

It’s good to finally have clarity on that, that it was all around this exit clause.

Nico Rosberg told Sky Sports F1

Nico Rosberg also raised uncertainty over the possibility of Max Verstappen leaving Red Bull if he had a serious chance. Regardless, Rosberg pointed out that the alleged exit caused Verstappen to have to stay at Milton Keynes. Because of the exit clause, the Dutchman was obliged to stay with the same team and not leave them in the coming season.

And then beyond that, we don’t even know if, if he would have moved or not in any case, but now it seems that that clause has triggered him to be obliged to stay at Red Bull.

Nico Rosberg added

Nico Rosberg asserts Max Verstappen’s decision ‘makes sense’

Red Bull enabled Max Verstappen win four coveted driver titles in Formula 1. Even though times are difficult right now, Verstappen cannot simply rule out everything that the team has given him. Milton Keynes is one of the better teams on the F1 grid, as anything can happen under the new regulations of the 2026 season. As such, Nico Rosberg reckons that the 27-year-old’s decision to continue with Red Bull makes sense for the long run.

Max Verstappen (via Red Bull)
Max Verstappen (via Red Bull)

Nico Rosberg explained that it made sense for Max Verstappen to continue with Red Bull because it was difficult to judge which team would be best with the new regulations of the 2026 season. Rosberg guessed that Milton Keynes would definitely be in a good position as the team continues to give it their all towards developing their chassis for the coming season.

And which anyways, it still makes sense for him because it’s so difficult to judge which team is going to be best next year with new regulations. And Red Bull certainly will be in a good position, I’m sure. So anyway, we have clarity there.

Nico Rosberg noted

The 2025 season is just halfway over, as Red Bull is still giving it their all to get out of the performance slump. Max Verstappen hasn’t given up on the championship either, despite claiming that his results do not matter anymore. Time will tell how the remainder of the season pans out, as Verstappen’s continuation with the team will help provide some stability within the team.

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