Red ไBull have insisted that the team’♛s performance - and not money - will allow Max Verstappen to decide if he stays for the duration of his contract.

The three-time F1 champion is tied to Red Bull until 2028, a period which 🍃will include two seasons under 🌠the new regulations.

Lewis Hamilton’s blockbuster move from Mercedes 🌠to Ferrari - and whatever the knock-on effect inevitably is - has created talk about Verstappen’s long-term future.

Would he stay at Red Bull if a big-mone൩y offer from a more competiti꧂ve rival came in?

“As in every Formula 1 contract, th🔯ere are clauses if certain success quality criteria are not met,” Helmut Marko told Servus TV.

“These are also included in Max's contract.

“I don't think an incomprehensible amount of money is an👍 issue for Max.

“If we are not in a position to provide him with a car that is capable of winning…of course he's 🌃interested in success as a racing driver.

“You don't get any younger.

“And if he doesn't see the light with Red Bull and these criteria come into play, then it's quite ﷺclear that he'll look around.

“But where would there be something better?"

How Mercedes opt to fill Hamilton’s seat in 2025 remains to be seᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚen.

Fernando Alonso is among the big-name options but Mercedes could plump for a younger optio🧔n with a bright future.

The new regulations which will kick 🍌in in 2026 could also readdress the current balance and test Red Bull’s dominance.

Red Bull must first decide what to do themselves in 2025, with Sergio Perez’s contract expiring and ♔a host of possible replacements also becoming available.

“Perez still has a contract for 2024: it's up to him,” Ma𝔉rko said.

“If he drives in similar form to h🐽ow he finished the last races [of 2023], then we can easily൲ talk about a further extension.”

Daniel Ricciardo, who returned with Red Bull sist﷽er team AlphaTauri (now Visa Cash App RB) last year, is a key option but has been challenged by Marko.

“Ricciardo has to show th𒐪at he has [Yuki]🍒 Tsunoda clearly under control,” Marko said.

“Then he might be a candidate.

“But you asked for a date. I would say: after the summer break, you could already have certain consid൲erations ready."