At the start of the FIA’s official press session, Max Verstappen made it clear that he would not comment on rumors about a possible move to McLaren. Nevertheless, after the Silverstone Grand Prix, the Red Bull driver held talks with the team’s officials about his future.
In the morning, Verstappen announced his collaboration with young McLaren driver Dries Van Langendonck. This news temporarily overshadowed the speculation about the Dutch driver’s future and potential negotiations with McLaren. The rumors, which gained momentum after Silverstone, have been fueled by vague comments posted on social media, some of which were unrelated to Verstappen.
During the press conference, when a journalist attempted to address the topic of his future, Verstappen was firm in his responses. “There is nothing to say. No updates or comments,” he asserted. The dynamic repeated itself with other questions about his stay at Red Bull, where he insisted he was not ready to share details.
After the press session, during a meeting with Dutch media, Verstappen reaffirmed his decision not to comment on his future. When asked about a possible private decision, he responded: “I am only focused on making the right steps here”. Additionally, he clarified that there is no deadline for making an announcement about his contractual situation.
It is known that Verstappen’s contract includes an exit clause related to his position in the championship in August, but he is not obliged to notify Red Bull before October. Unlike last season, he currently has the option to activate this clause, although his sporting director, Raymond Vermeulen, has indicated that this does not imply that the Verstappen family intends to do so.
In the past, Red Bull had asked Verstappen to publicly commit to the team, a request the driver does not seem interested in responding to. When asked about the pressure he might feel, Verstappen assured that “there is no pressure” and that discussions with the team mainly revolve around the car and how to improve it.
After retiring from the British Grand Prix, Verstappen has had dialogues with the team about Red Bull’s performance. He has stated that his frustration was understandable, yet he has refocused on work within the simulator.
Although the driver does not want to enter speculations, what he did not say during the press session may be more significant than his words. Currently, Verstappen has no incentive to close the door on possible options outside of Red Bull, a fact that could give him an advantage regarding his current contractual situation.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
SourceID: SRC_488fbc1f1d4cc99f011410be4c7b7e102bdd5a39