Verstappen's manager asserts that he wishes to remain with Red Bull.

      "A private gathering that was set up long ago"

      Max Verstappen’s manager, Raymond Vermeulen, provided the same explanation as Dr. Helmut Marko regarding the much-discussed meeting in Amsterdam last week, reiterating that the four-time world champion still wants to stay with Red Bull. The meeting involving Vermeulen, Jos Verstappen, and the recently retired Marko has sparked new speculation about Verstappen’s future, as he is rumored to be linked with Aston Martin, McLaren, and even a potential sabbatical.

      However, after Marko previously referred to the gathering as a private event arranged well in advance, Vermeulen offered a nearly identical clarification to Austria’s Osterreich newspaper. "That was a private meeting that had been planned quite some time ago," he stated. "Additionally, Max’s sister was getting married."

      Vermeulen also played down the ongoing speculation surrounding transfers. "There’s a lot being said about it," he noted. "But the reality is, Max wants to see out his time with Red Bull. He has a contract until 2028 and intends to fulfill it."

      When questioned about the widely rumored performance-related exit clause for Verstappen, Vermeulen affirmed that just because it exists doesn’t mean it will be activated. "The existence of this clause doesn’t imply we’ll use it," he commented. "We could have activated it in recent years, but we haven’t."

      Vermeulen expressed optimism regarding Red Bull's potential for recovery. He remarked that although it's unlikely Verstappen will win this weekend in Spa, "the odds improve in Budapest and Zandvoort," while asserting that the team's new Red Bull-Ford power unit "is better than most people believed."

      Former Haas team principal Gunther Steiner also opined that staying with Red Bull is the best choice for Verstappen. "Red Bull is fully designed for Max," he told Sport Bild. "Such a setup can’t simply be replicated. Moreover, Max earns a lot of money. Remaining with Red Bull would be the best decision for him."

      Steiner acknowledged, however, the complexity of the current situation. "But Max has remained," he said, referencing past similar scenarios. "And recently the team appeared significantly stronger again, as seen in Austria. In contrast, Silverstone was another misstep."

      Meanwhile, reports indicate that Red Bull is now advocating for closer scrutiny from the FIA concerning the innovative 'Macarena' rear wing design, following two recent rear wing failures experienced by Verstappen, with Ferrari currently being the only team to have fully mastered this design.

      Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher believes the failures warrant serious investigation. "The question is why this occurs only to him (Verstappen)," he told Sky Deutschland. "You could attribute it to sheer bad luck, but perhaps his driving style differs significantly from Isack Hadjar’s."

      Schumacher mentioned that the continuous failures inevitably lead to speculation. "Is it really just a coincidence, or is there more to it?" he queried. "Eventually, you hear all sorts of stories. I really hope they manage to resolve this technically soon."

      Looking ahead to Spa, he cautioned: "Thankfully, it happened in the braking zone. Otherwise, on a track like Spa, it could have posed a much more serious issue."