Source: Imagn Images/Sam Navaro
[Saba Sports News] Amid rumors that Max Verstappen might trigger the “top-three clause” in his contract to move to Mercedes or Aston Martin, Ford Performance President Mark Rushbrook confidently declared to the media: “Even if Verstappen leaves, our partnership with Red Bull in 2026 engine development remains unchanged.” Rushbrook admitted that Ford’s interest lies in the Red Bull system rather than any individual. Even if Adrian Newey and Christian Horner leave, Ford will fully support the development of Red Bull’s power unit because the 2026 hybrid engine battlefield represents the ultimate goal for the American giant. Rushbrook’s remarks completely debunked speculations about Ford possibly following the four-time world champion to withdraw investments and inadvertently exposed a lesser-known performance clause in Verstappen’s contract with Red Bull—should the Dutchman drop out of the top three in the standings, transfer negotiations could be initiated early. The Red Bull team currently faces dual crises: Oscar Piastri leads with a four-race advantage, Verstappen trails by 16 points for third place, and reports suggest that the Aston Martin team is preparing a $1 billion super contract to poach talent. The butterfly effect of this game is spreading: the Mercedes team has postponed renewal talks with Andrea Kimi Antonelli; the Aston Martin team is accelerating joint R&D with Newey.