Just as the rumor mill settled down about Max Verstappen's potential move to Mercedes, his 2026 exit clause has now been revealed.

Rumors continued to simmer until two days ago, when Red Bull team advisor Helmut Marko confirmed his expectation that Verstappen would be back in 2026. ESPN's Nate Saunders reported an exit clause in Verstappen's contract came and went, too, making it more likely he'd stay put.

The luxury automakers Mercedes-Benz and Porsche slashed their forecasts for earnings this year as the double whammy of President Trump’s tariffs and slowing demand in China hit the German companies hard.