Max Verstappen Denies McLaren Move Rumours

Max Verstappen is back at the centre of attention after his manager, Raymond Vermeulen, dismissed rumours linking the four-time world champion with a move to McLaren.

A British media report previously claimed Verstappen could join the Woking-based squad as early as next season. Under that scenario, he would line up alongside Lando Norris, while Oscar Piastri was linked with a move in the opposite direction to Red Bull Racing.

"Those rumours are completely unfounded. There have been no negotiations."

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Vermeulen’s response is significant amid growing attention on Verstappen’s future. That situation has emerged after Red Bull slipped in the competitive order, while new technical regulations have reshaped the Formula 1 landscape.

Pressure on Red Bull has also increased because several senior figures from Verstappen’s dominant years have left the team. Paul Monaghan is set to become the next figure to depart from the team’s technical structure.

Vermeulen stressed that the primary target remains staying with Red Bull, but car performance is a key condition. Verstappen and his management are now focused on assessing the car’s progress over the coming weeks.

"As I said before, we’re waiting to see how the car performs in the coming weeks. We definitely want to stay at Red Bull, but only with a car that can win."

With that denial, the Verstappen-to-McLaren story currently has no negotiation basis from the driver’s management. However, Red Bull’s performance in the next phase remains the key variable that will define the stability of its project with Verstappen.