Croft Says Verstappen’s Public RB22 Complaints Could Be a Signal to Leave Red Bull

Commentators argue the radio outbursts may be tactical messaging that could influence Verstappen’s use of a reported exit clause and his next contract choice.

Overview

Max Verstappen repeatedly told his race engineer during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend that the RB22 was “completely broken aerodynamically,” he spun in qualifying and still finished second in the race.
Sky Sports lead commentator David Croft suggested those public complaints might have “other motives” and questioned whether they are intended to help engineer an exit from Red Bull to a team such as McLaren.
Croft and others describe the RB22 as very fast when set up perfectly but fragile in practice, where small damage or setup shifts can sharply degrade balance and make the car hard to drive.
Verstappen is reported to be contracted to Red Bull through 2028 with a year‑end exit clause and Red Bull has reportedly offered an extension to 2029, but no clause has been announced as activated and no new deal is confirmed.
The story now centers on what Verstappen’s public complaints mean for his decision window and the wider market with the summer shutdown and an October deadline for any formal activation of the exit clause being key milestones to watch.