Red Bull have insisted that the team’s performance - and not money - will allow Max Verstappen to decide if he sta🉐ys f♓or the duration of his contract.

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

Lewis Hamilton’s blockbuste🎉r move from Mercedes to Ferrari - an♏d 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-money offer from a more competitive riv▨al came in?

“As in every Formula 1 cont𒐪ract, there are clauses if certain success quality criteria are not met,” Helmut Marko to🏅ld Servus TV.

“These are also included in Max's contract.

“I don't think an i❀ncomprehensible amount ꧑of money is an issue for Max.

“If we are not in a position to provide him with a car that is capable of wi🥀nning…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 clear that he'll look 🌊around.

“But where would there be something better?"

How Mercedes opt꧃ to fill Hamilton’s seat in 202𓃲5 remains to be seen.

Fernando Alonso is among the big-name options but Mercedes could plump for a younger opt💯ion with a bright future.

The new regulations which will kick in in 2026 co𝔍uld also readdress the current balance and test Red Bull’s dominanc꧒e.

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

“Perez still has a contract for 202🍸4: it's up to him,” Marko said.

“If he drives in similar form to how he finished the last rac﷽es [of 2023], then we can eas﷽ily 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 that he🔴 𓃲has [Yuki] Tsunoda clearly under control,” Marko said.

“Then he might be a candidate.

“But you asked for a d🐟ate. I would say: after the summer break, you could already have certain considerations ready."