Verstappen's team states there is 'nothing' to the McLaren rumors.

      Red Bull's attempts to persuade Max Verstappen to continue with the team have escalated amid increasing speculation about a potential switch to McLaren for the four-time world champion. Rumors circulated in the paddock during the Austrian GP on Friday that Verstappen has been discussing a surprising move to McLaren in 2027, which would involve Oscar Piastri going in the opposite direction. Verstappen's manager, Raymond Vermeulen, dismissed these rumors. "There’s nothing to it," he stated to the Bild newspaper. "There were no negotiations. As I mentioned, we will wait to see how the car develops in the coming weeks. We definitely want to stay with Red Bull, but we need a car that can win."

      The situation is challenging for Red Bull, which arrived at its home race with what Auto Motor und Sport labeled a significant upgrade package. "Virtually everything from the cockpit of the RB22 onwards has been revised," reported the German magazine. However, after Friday's practice, Verstappen was not entirely convinced, as Red Bull still seemed behind the leading pace. Vermeulen acknowledged that the pressure is now increasing. "We simply need a package that enables 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 be competitive. After all, Max wasn’t meant to drive in the midfield."

      When asked if Verstappen will definitely be with Red Bull in 2027, Vermeulen refrained from providing a firm reassurance. "We don’t have to commit to a ’yes’ or ’no’ right now. There are agreements that we will honor." Adding to the uncertainty, reports have surfaced that veteran engineer Paul Monaghan is preparing to leave the Milton Keynes team. According to Bild, Monaghan has decided to join Cadillac despite interest from Aston Martin. "Monaghan has informed confidants that he has chosen Cadillac," reported the German newspaper. Team principal Laurent Mekies has allegedly not even been informed of Monaghan's decision by him directly. "I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to comment on every single rumor that arises," said the Frenchman. "Paul is actually here today. He has been working very hard to get our cars out this morning."

      Regarding Verstappen, Mekies dismissed claims that Red Bull is constantly seeking reassurances about his future. "As I mentioned a few weeks ago, we are not asking Max every week," he said. "He’s working alongside us, helping to find the right development path for the car, conducting extensive test scans through the sessions to explore every option. So, this is not a topic for us. As you may agree, if the car is back where we want it to be, there will be no discussion."