Verstappen Manager Denies McLaren Negotiations But Warns Red Bull Must Deliver

Max Verstappen's manager Raymond Vermeulen has flatly denied rumours of negotiations with McLaren, yet his comments have only sharpened focus on the four-time champion's future at Red Bull. With Verstappen seventh in the standings and an exit clause activating before the Hungarian Grand Prix, Vermeulen made clear the next few weeks are critical for the team to prove it can still win.

Why it matters:

A Verstappen departure would send shockwaves through the driver market. After years of dominance, Red Bull's sudden slump has triggered a performance clause that could see its star asset walk away if the team cannot demonstrate genuine title-winning potential by early July.

The details:

• Vermeulen told German media that McLaren rumours are baseless, insisting no talks have taken place.
• With Mercedes and Ferrari effectively closed as options, McLaren had emerged as the only logical destination, fuelling speculation of a swap involving Oscar Piastri.
• Team principal Laurent Mekies has identified "a fast car" and "continuous progress" as non-negotiable criteria for Verstappen to remain.
• The Austrian Grand Prix offered hope, with Verstappen taking second place within two seconds of winner George Russell after a major upgrade.
• Vermeulen stressed that Verstappen "was not born to compete in the midfield," underlining the need for immediate improvement.
• Red Bull's new power unit provides long-term encouragement, with its ICE recently rated best by the FIA at the first 2026 ADUO checkpoint.

What's next:

The next races before Hungary will determine Verstappen's fate. If Red Bull's Austrian upgrade proves a genuine step forward, the champion may stay. If the gap to the front remains, Verstappen could trigger his exit clause and upend the 2026 driver market.