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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHill argues that clause might as well be exercised pre-emptively if Red Bull cannot close the gap to McLaren by season\u2019s end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRed Bull are fighting to retain Max,\u201d Hill told the BBC\u2019s Chequered Flag podcast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why A Year Off Makes Sense<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt might be a wise thing to do,\u201d Hill said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019s won four World Championships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe could sit back next year and go \u2018okay, I can see which way the future is going to go for the next 10 years.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hill\u2019s logic is that the new engine and chassis rules arriving in 2026 could shake up the pecking order even more dramatically than the 2021-22 transition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By taking a sabbatical, the Dutchman would avoid being locked into a potentially uncompetitive car and could return in 2027 with full knowledge of who adapted best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Psychological Edge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Verstappen has often dismissed speculation about leaving, insisting he is focused on the current campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hill, though, believes the champion\u2019s ruthless pursuit of success makes loyalty conditional on performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf Red Bull cannot convince him they can keep up, why stay?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Precedent For A Break<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Hill referenced Niki Lauda\u2019s two-year hiatus in 1980-81 and Alain Prost\u2019s 1992 sabbatical as proof that time away does not dull a champion\u2019s edge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both drivers returned to seize additional world titles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Verstappen, now just 27, has ample time to emulate that blueprint without jeopardising his statistical march toward the sport\u2019s records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Red Bull\u2019s Counter-Move<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Team boss Christian Horner has already pledged major upgrades and a staffing reshuffle to chase McLaren.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But even if Red Bull claw back ground in 2025, Hill questions whether that recovery can be sustained through the rule reset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rivals Ready To Pounce<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Mercedes and Aston Martin have long courted Verstappen, while Ferrari\u2019s management overhaul might tempt him if the Scuderia show clear progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A year on the market would allow Verstappen to choose whichever 2027 package looks most potent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Risk Factor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Taking a break always carries danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sponsors may shift focus, and the grid\u2019s young talents will seize any opening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Hill insists Verstappen\u2019s stock is so high that he would \u201cslot straight back in again\u201d wherever he wishes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Final Thought<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
With four titles in his pocket and the sport on the cusp of another technological shake-up, Verstappen must weigh immediate racing thrills against long-term supremacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hill\u2019s advice to \u201csee which way the wind is going to blow\u201d may prove the most pragmatic strategy of all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Max Verstappen\u2019s dominance over the past four seasons has created an expectation that he will keep racing wherever there is a winning car. Yet Damon Hill believes stepping away in 2026 could actually protect that winning aura. The 1996 World Champion points to the looming regulation overhaul and McLaren\u2019s current superiority as reasons for Verstappen to pause and reassess. Contract Clauses And Competitive Doubts Verstappen\u2019s long-term deal with Red Bull reportedly includes a performance clause that allows him to leave early if the team fails to finish inside the top three in the Constructors\u2019 standings. Hill argues that clause might<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":29292,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,21,26],"tags":[31,51],"class_list":["post-34991","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-driver-market","category-featured","category-latest-news","tag-max-verstappen","tag-red-bull-racing"],"yoast_head":"\n