Red Bull insists Max Verstappen is committed amid McLaren speculation
Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies has moved to shut down speculation linking Max Verstappen with a sensational move to McLaren, reports BritPanorama.
The Dutchman’s future has become a significant talking point during the Austrian Grand Prix weekend following reports of a potential blockbuster swap deal involving Oscar Piastri as early as next season.
Verstappen has faced a challenging start to the 2026 campaign, with Red Bull struggling to compete at the front of the grid. The four-time world champion currently sits 101 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli after just seven grand prix, with the RB22 failing to match the pace of the leading contenders.
As Red Bull introduces a major upgrade package for their home race in Austria, they aim to reduce the car’s excess weight and close the gap to rivals. Despite the swirling speculation regarding Verstappen’s future, Mekies emphasized that the 28-year-old has made his intentions clear internally.
“I think the last time I was in this press conference, I said that I’m not asking Max every week if he’s going to stay,” Mekies stated. “Max has made clear to us that he wants to continue with the team. It’s equally clear that he needs a fast car for him to be happy with the team.”
Mekies acknowledged that Verstappen has been vocal about the improvements he desires, particularly concerning future technical regulations. “You may recall also that he has been vocal about the progress that we needed to have on the regulations,” he added. “We have managed to tweak these regulations for 2027 and 2028.”
He remains engaged with Red Bull’s efforts to regain their competitive edge, as the reigning champions navigate extensive testing programs in Austria following a difficult opening phase of the season. “He’s pushing with us, he’s helping us to find the right development path for the car, again doing very large test scans through the sessions to try to turn all the stones as possible,” said Mekies. “The topic for us is to get the car back to where we want it to be. And, as you may, I hope, agree, if the car is back where we want it to be, there will be no discussion.”
Verstappen has won the Austrian Grand Prix four times throughout his career. As the season unfolds, the tension between performance and speculation will continue to shape the storylines within Formula One, providing a backdrop to the thrill of the race.
