It seems like the Max Verstappen to Mercedes saga can finally come to an end, as the Dutchman remains posied to stay wit Red Bull Racing though the 2026 Formula 1 season. But why? Well, with his fourth-placed finish at Spa on Sunday, he has now moved beyond the conditions of a potential exit clause in his contract during the Belgian Grand Prix. Speculation surrounding Verstappen’s future had intensified in recent months. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff openly expressed interest in signing the four-time world champion for 2025, should an opportunity present itself. Although Verstappen’s current contract with Red Bull runs until 2028, it includes clauses that could have allowed him to leave early under specific circumstances. ESPN reported that Verstappen would have been free to exit the team if he ranked fourth or lower in the championship standings following the Hungarian Grand Prix, which preceded Formula 1’s August summer break. However, after the race weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, Verstappen extended his lead beyond the reach of fourth-placed George Russell. His victory in Saturday’s sprint race gave him a 26-point buffer over Russell, a gap he widened by an additional two points during Sunday’s grand prix. Given that a driver can earn a maximum of 25 points in a standard race weekend, Verstappen’s lead effectively secured his contractual status. Notably, the Dutchman emphasized the importance of the remaining races this season in contributing to Red Bull’s development for the new regulations in 2026. “I think it’s still important also this year to learn certain things because they will also have an effect on next year,” Verstappen said on Sunday evening. “Because the cars will be completely different, but there are still things that we can work on and take also to next year. “So, of course, engineering and everything — the car design is already underway for next year — but we can still learn a lot also this year.”