Is door still open for Max to leave Red Bull even though he's 3rd in WDC?

[John S]

Joe Saward believes Max still has an out since it's the team position that is important in his escape clause, see below:-

"If Mercedes believes that there is a possibility of getting Max, one has to conclude that there is a way it can be done and that will no doubt depend on option clauses that we do not know about. I have been asking around about this for some time and I have concluded that if Red Bull is not third in the Constructors’ Championship by the end of July, Max might be able to leave. If the team is third he is automatically locked in for another year. However, if he does walk away, all hell is going to break loose at Milton Keynes, although in such a scenario, one can imagine that Red Bull would abandon the idea of promoting youngsters – who are not ready – and sign George instead."

"At the moment Red Bull Racing is fourth in the Constructors’ so you can see that there is a window of hope for Mercedes – if the stories I have heard are correct. To be quite honest, Red Bull should not be fourth in the Constructors, but having a second driver who has scored next to nothing means that it is effectively a one-car team."
Excerpt from 'Green Notebook from Pullman City' on JoeSaward.worldpress.com, 2nd July 25.