Verstappen downplays rumors about the Salzburg meeting.

      Max Verstappen has dismissed new speculation regarding his future after being seen in Salzburg earlier this week, where he met with Red Bull’s top executives. The movements of the quadruple world champion’s private jet have been closely monitored amid ongoing rumors linking him to Mercedes.

      The speculation heightened when Verstappen’s plane was spotted traveling to England near Mercedes’ headquarters before heading to Austria. Footage later surfaced showing him with manager Raymond Vermeulen, Red Bull co-owner Chalerm Yoovidhya, heir Mark Mateschitz, and CEO Oliver Mintzlaff. When asked about the meeting, Verstappen declined to provide details. "If there’s anything you need to know, you’ll hear that from me," he told Dutch reporters in Barcelona.

      Journalist Erik van Haren from De Telegraaf, who is well-connected with Verstappen’s camp, stated that the Salzburg meeting was not tied to contract discussions or an impending exit. "To clarify: Verstappen did not address that in this week's conversation either," reported van Haren. Sources confirm that "the discussion had been arranged well in advance, after reviewing everyone’s schedules." According to van Haren, the meeting was simply a review of the first half of the season.

      However, the timing of the rumors is noteworthy, as Red Bull has been having a tough start to 2026, despite suggestions that its new Ford-backed engine might be the best on the grid. Verstappen acknowledged on Friday that the RB22 is currently underperforming. "We're losing time in both the fast and slow sections, essentially everywhere," he commented. "All day we struggled with grip, car feel, and balance. I don’t think we can compete for the top positions. This is where we stand."

      In the meantime, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has again sought to quell speculation that Verstappen remains a target for the team. When questioned about George Russell’s challenging result streak and the widening championship gap to teammate Kimi Antonelli, Wolff firmly supported his current drivers. "If he had won in Montreal or finished second, we wouldn’t be discussing George’s tough campaign," he said. "The DNF caused by the team deprived him of those 25 or 18 points. Without the Monaco incidents, he would have scored solid points."

      Wolff reiterated his definitive stance regarding his driver lineup. "There’s nobody else I would wish to have in the team than the two we have." He dismissed claims that Antonelli’s five-race winning streak has highlighted a significant gap to Russell. "I’m always careful not to diminish Kimi’s achievements, but in terms of pace and racing results, they are quite similar," he noted. "They continually challenge each other, which is beneficial. But it’s just a young man who has grasped the demands of Formula 1 and how to convert his talent into results. We’re very impressed."