Max Verstappen will be a Red Bull driver in 2020 after the performance clause in his contract expired in Hungary.
Since the Austrian GP, there has been speculation about the Dutchman’s future after team advisor Helmut Marko confirmed there were certain criteria which would allow Max to look elsewhere.
At the time, it was suggested that one clause would be activated if the 21-year-old hadn’t won a race by Budapest but of course he has now won twice.
However, the Austrian suggested it was something in Hungary itself which had meant his opportunity to pass had now gone.
“It’s over on Sunday,” Marko told Motorsport-Magazin website.
“The clause exists, and we have deliberately accepted, because it’s the first year with Honda, and there’s been so much speculation about negative results.”
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Sunday’s race did see Verstappen claim a fifth podium of 2019 which could have been a trigger but either way, there’s no escape for next season.
The same can’t be said for teammate Pierre Gasly, however, with the notoriously hardline Red Bull chief berating the Frenchman.
“It is incredibly difficult to overtake [at the Hungaroring],” he is quoted by F1i.com.
“At the start, he lost the positions and then there was nothing left he could do.
“He is not the best overtaking man either. It has been seen by others how hard they have been. So yes, lost at the start.”
While team boss Christian Horner indicated Gasly will see out the season, Marko appeared less willing to commit.
“Let’s go to the summer break, then we’ll keep looking,” he said ominously.
