Verstappen at Red Bull amid McLaren rumors as Ferrari logs first Madring laps

Max Verstappen returned to the Red Bull factory in Milton Keynes this week, yet his presence hasn't quieted growing speculation about a move to McLaren. With an October deadline looming to trigger an exit clause and a costly Silverstone retirement still fresh, the four-time champion's future is the talk of the paddock, while Ferrari has quietly gained an early advantage by completing filming day laps at the new Madring circuit.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's latest setback at Silverstone—a rear wing failure that sent him into the gravel at Stowe while he was set for a podium—has only intensified questions about his Red Bull future. He must decide by October whether to activate an exit clause, and paddock sources continue to point toward a McLaren switch. Meanwhile, Ferrari's decision to run at Madring hands Leclerc and Hamilton crucial track knowledge ahead of September's inaugural race.

The details:

• Verstappen visited the Red Bull factory shortly after the British Grand Prix, where a rear wing issue ended his race and prompted fierce criticism over the danger of the failure.
• Driver market: Multiple sources suggest an announcement linking Verstappen to McLaren could be close, though neither driver nor team has commented publicly.
• Ferrari became the first Formula 1 team to complete laps at the Madring, bringing both race drivers to the Spanish capital for a filming day.
• Teams are permitted up to 200 kilometres during filming days, giving Ferrari a data bank its rivals currently lack for the new venue.
• Newey's return: Aston Martin's Adrian Newey drove the RB17 hypercar at Goodwood, describing the moment as "incredibly special" after first sketching the project back in 2020.

What's next:

Verstappen's next few months will shape the driver market. If he opts to leave Red Bull before the October deadline, the reigning champions would face the unenviable task of filling one of the sport's most coveted seats. Up next on the track, Ferrari will attempt to turn its Madring mileage into a genuine setup advantage when the championship visits Madrid for the first time in September.