Verstappen's team dismisses McLaren rumors as 'nothing.'

      Red Bull's attempts to persuade Max Verstappen to stay with the team have escalated amid increasing rumors linking the four-time world champion to McLaren. Speculation circulated in the Austrian GP paddock on Friday that Verstappen has been in discussions regarding a surprise move to McLaren in 2027, which would see Oscar Piastri heading the other way. Verstappen's manager, Raymond Vermeulen, dismissed these rumors. "There’s nothing to it," he told Bild newspaper. "There were no negotiations. As I mentioned, we’ll wait to see how the car develops in the coming weeks. We definitely want to remain with Red Bull, but we need a car that can win."

      The situation is particularly challenging for Red Bull, which arrived at its home race with what Auto Motor und Sport described as a significant upgrade package. "Practically everything from the cockpit of the RB22 onwards has been modified," reported the German magazine. However, Verstappen was not immediately convinced after the Friday practice, as Red Bull still lagged behind the front-runners.

      Vermeulen acknowledged the mounting pressure. "We simply need a package that allows us to compete at the top," he told De Telegraaf. "That has always been our foundation. We feel at home at Red Bull, but we want to remain competitive. After all, Max wasn’t born to race in the midfield." When asked if Verstappen is guaranteed to be with Red Bull in 2027, Vermeulen refrained from providing assurance. "We don’t have to commit to a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ at this moment. There are agreements that we will respect."

      Adding to the uncertainty, reports indicate that veteran engineer Paul Monaghan is also planning to leave the Milton Keynes team. According to Bild, Monaghan has already decided to join Cadillac, despite interest from Aston Martin. "Monaghan has informed confidants that he has chosen Cadillac," reported the German publication. Team principal Laurent Mekies is said to have not yet been informed of Monaghan's decision. "I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to comment on every single rumor that emerges," said the Frenchman. "Paul is actually here today. He has been working very hard to get our cars ready this morning."

      Regarding Verstappen, Mekies dismissed any notion that Red Bull is seeking constant updates about Verstappen’s future. "As I stated a few weeks ago, we are not asking Max every week," he said. "He’s collaborating with us, helping us find the right development path for the car, and conducting extensive test scans throughout the sessions to explore all possibilities. So, it’s not a topic for us. If the car returns to where we want it to be, I believe there will be no further discussion."