Raymond Vermeulen, the manager for Max Verstappen, has denied rumors that the Dutch driver is in contract negotiations with McLaren.
On June 27, 2026, Vermeulen confirmed that Verstappen remains committed to his current contract with Red Bull Racing.
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Focus on Performance
The management team emphasized that Verstappen is focused on performance rather than a team transition.
Future decisions will depend heavily on whether Red Bull can establish the correct development trajectory.
This starts with a significant upgrade package introduced at the Austrian Grand Prix.
Vermeulen addressed the speculation directly to clarify the driver's status amid ongoing paddock rumors.
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"Those rumors are baseless. There have been no negotiations.
As I said, we are waiting to see how the car develops in the coming weeks.
We definitely want to stay with Red Bull, but with a car that can win," Vermeulen told BILD.
The statement clarifies that while a transfer to McLaren is ruled out, Verstappen requires a competitive vehicle to maintain his long-term commitment with Red Bull.
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Verstappen is scheduled to compete at the Red Bull Ring this weekend as the team evaluates the effectiveness of their latest technical upgrades.
