Horner: No engine-related clause in Verstappen's contract
Red Bull has dismissed any talk that Honda's decision to quit Formula 1 at the end of 2021 means that Max Verstappen can trigger an exit clause in his contract.

Verstappen has pledged his future to Red Bull until the end of 2023, having originally joined the team in 2016 and winning his first race with the outfit at the Spanish GP that year.
But Honda's shock withdrawal fuelled speculation that it could give Red Bull a tough time in holding on to the Dutchman, with some claiming that the youngster could even have break clauses in his contract that are dependent on engine suppliers.
But team boss Christian Horner has rubbished any suggestion that Verstappen is questioning his future at the outfit, and says Honda's decision to bring forward plans for a new engine to the start of next year have actually increased optimism for the future.
"There is no such clause in his contract," Horner told Red Bull's ServusTV about the possibility of Verstappen walking.
"The contracts between the driver and the team are private, but there is definitely no engine-related clause in Max's contract.
"He is competitive. He feels very comfortable in the team and believes strongly in the Honda program. I think he also sees that Honda has brought forward the engine from 2022 to 2021. That is encouraging, of course.
"So we will take another step forward next year. He's excited about this, and he still has a long way to go until 2022."
Read Also:
While Red Bull has been aware of Honda's decision for some time, it has not yet opened any serious discussions with potential future engine suppliers.
The most likely avenue for the outfit is to renew a partnership with Renault, even though relations with the French car manufacturer in the past have been quite tense at times.
However, the arrival of new CEO Luca de Meo has triggered a change of atmosphere at the car maker and Horner has suggested his views of the company have changed.
"We must now start thinking about an engine partner for 2022," he said. "We need clarity by the end of the year.
"Of course we have to consider all possibilities, all options. But in the end, Mr.[Dietrich] Mateschitz must decide how to proceed. But it is important for us to have enough power to challenge Mercedes in the coming years.
"Of course I understand why people assume that we will talk to Renault. Since the separation, Renault has changed. The new board brings a lot of fresh wind and some changes. Things are moving forward."
While one avenue could be for Honda to provide the IP of its engine to Red Bull or another manufacturer, Horner is sceptical about that happening, or anyone else new coming in to F1.
"The cost of getting a new manufacturer on board under the current regulations is simply far too high," he said. "So there will be no new manufacturer until a new engine - possibly 2026 - comes on the market. The costs for development are enormously high.
"The FIA and Liberty have to get a grip on this. They have done a good job on the chassis. Now we need homologated engines and we also need budget caps for the power units."
Related video

Previous article
F1 will soon be “the best it’s ever been”, says ex-Renault boss Bob Bell
Next article
AMG to ramp up ties with Mercedes F1 team in 2021

About this article
Series | Formula 1 |
Drivers | Max Verstappen |
Author | Jonathan Noble |
Horner: No engine-related clause in Verstappen's contract
Why Verstappen isn't interested in the hype game
In a pre-season where Red Bull has been unusually quiet, Max Verstappen has also been guarded about the team's fortunes in 2021. Even after trying the RB16B for the first time at Silverstone, the Dutchman was careful to manage expectations
The pros and cons of F1's 2021 rule changes
In the strategy for grand prix racing's future, 2021 represents a significant step towards the goal of closer racing and a more level playing field. That's the theory behind the latest raft of changes, but will they have the desired effect?
What Red Bull is trying to hide with its RB16B launch
Red Bull made no secret of the fact its 2021 F1 car is an evolution of its predecessor, but in keeping the same foundations while hiding some tightly-guarded updates with its RB16B, the team aims to avoid suffering the same pitfalls of previous years
How Albon plans to fight his way out of Red Bull limbo
Alex Albon has faced the media for the first time since he lost his Red Bull drive at the end of 2020 and dropped out of a Formula 1 race seat altogether. He has a history of bouncing back from setbacks, so here's what he must do to rise again
Ranked! Carlin's greatest F1 graduates
Carlin has helped guide enough drivers to Formula 1 to fill out an entire grid, plus a handful of reserves, to create a remarkable alumni list. With Yuki Tsunoda set to join that group, Motorsport.com has ranked its graduates to grace the grand prix scene...
Why Alfa's 2021 launch says more about its 2022 plans
Alfa Romeo launched its C41 with a revised front nose, but there's little to suggest it will surge up the leaderboard in 2021. As the team frankly admits, it's putting its eggs in the basket labelled 2022 and hoping to hold the eighth place it earned last year
Why Gasly’s AlphaTauri haven is a blessing and a curse
Red Bull opted not to re-sign Pierre Gasly even before it decided to drop Alex Albon and so the Frenchman's Formula 1 journey will continue at AlphaTauri. This has positive and negative connotations for one of last season's star performers.
Eight things Red Bull must do to beat Mercedes in 2021
After seven years of defeat at the hands of Mercedes, Red Bull is as hungry as ever to secure a fifth world championship. But there are key challenges it must overcome in 2021 to switch from challenger to conqueror