Team boss Laurent Mekies has addressed rumours linking four-time champion Max Verstappen with a stunning move to McLaren, which would reportedly see Oscar Piastri end up at Red Bull.
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Verstappen has long been linked with moves to other teams including Mercedes and, more recently, McLaren – in a reported swap deal for Piastri – but this has been denied by McLaren.
The latest report from the Daily Mail on Friday claimed that Verstappen and McLaren have opened preliminary talks with the aim of the Dutchman joining Lando Norris.
Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2028, but has certain release clauses that could see him link up with a rival team.
Sources told Formula1.com that Verstappen’s team did have an informal chat with McLaren boss Zak Brown.
“But that doesn’t mean the world championship-winning team were actively pursuing the Dutchman,” F1 correspondent and present Lawrence Barretto went on to write.
“It’s commonplace in F1 that team principals, team owners, driver managers and even fathers hold talks with each other to build a picture of what the driver market looks like.
“It makes sense for a driver and his management to test the water with rival teams to assess potential opportunities, either because they want a move or they want to know there’s potential if they need a move in the future.
“Sometimes, such conversations can be used to put pressure on a driver’s current team to improve their situation or help them realise they have the best option.
“It also makes sense for teams to respond to interest from other parties and have an informal conversation with a rival, even if they don’t need a driver because information is power.”
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In other words, Barretto summed it up by reporting that for now the meeting looks to more be a case of simply “assessing the market” and that “as it stands” McLaren is not looking to move away from its Piastri-Norris line-up.
It comes after Verstappen’s manager Raymond Vermeulen told Dutch publication De Telegraaf that while the goal is to “see this adventure through together with Red Bull”, that message comes with a proviso.
“We just need a package that allows us to fight at the front. That has always been the foundation. We feel at home at Red Bull, but we want to be competitive. In the end, Max wasn’t born to race in the midfield,” added Vermeulen.
In the same article, journalist Erik van Haren wrote that McLaren is the most realistic to snap up Verstappen if he left Red Bull, adding that it is known Piastri also has clauses in his contract that would allow him to leave after this season.
After seven races this year, Verstappen has managed only one podium finish with Red Bull and seen his hopes of a fourth title diminish.
Speaking between the two opening practice sessions at the Austrian Grand Prix, Red Bull boss Mekies made clear that he believes Verstappen hopes to remain and complete his career with Red Bull, as he has often stated.
“Max has made clear to us that he wants to continue with the team,” said Mekies.
“It’s equally clear that he needs a fast car for him to be happy with the team.”
Earlier this year, Verstappen complained that the new ‘hybrid era’ cars were not enjoyable to drive and suggested he was contemplating leaving F1.
“He is pushing with us to find the right developments for the car. So for us the topic is to get the car back to where we all want it to be.”