Jul.17 (GMM) Max Verstappen again refused to clarify his Formula 1 future at Spa on Thursday, as the retired Dr Helmut Marko continued to play down speculation surrounding their recent meeting in Amsterdam.
The quadruple world champion has been heavily linked with McLaren in recent weeks, while reports have suggested relations with Red Bull have deteriorated following Silverstone.
Asked directly in the FIA press conference if he will still be at Red Bull in 2027, Verstappen refused to commit.
“Ok, I don’t want to go here and say yes and no, and this and that, about my future,” he said.
Later, when Dutch reporters again tried to revisit the subject, Verstappen shut the conversation down.
“I’m not going to say anything about that anyway,” he said.
Meanwhile, retired Red Bull adviser Marko again dismissed suggestions his Amsterdam meeting with Jos Verstappen and manager Raymond Vermeulen was linked to the saga.
“Unbelievable, all this fuss, considering I visit the Verstappens once every year,” he told Austria’s Kronen Zeitung.
He added with a smile: “Jos is simply a really big name in the Netherlands – and perhaps I am too.”
Marko also played down the significance of Verstappen’s widely discussed performance-related exit clause. “Such provisions are in every contract,” he said.
“But of course you can also talk about it.”
Despite Verstappen’s repeated criticism of Formula 1’s current regulations, Marko does not expect him to leave the sport.
“The real racing with a V8 engine should start in 2030 or 2031,” he said. “Until then, Max has to hold on.
“The big money is in Formula 1. That is why I assume that we will see Max still in the top category after his contract with Red Bull expired in 2028.”
Ironically, amid the McLaren rumours, Verstappen also confirmed a new collaboration between his Verstappen.com Racing program and McLaren junior Dries Van Langendonck.
“I think it’s just very exciting to try and help him and guide him, of course hand in hand with McLaren’s side as well, to make the right decisions for his future,” Verstappen said.
The development comes as Oscar Piastri continues to be linked with a possible Red Bull switch if Verstappen were to join McLaren.
“It is clear that Max feels that he is not currently in a great position and explores the options,” Piastri said.
“That was the case with him and Mercedes last year, so this is nothing new. I trust in what Zak (Brown) and Andrea (Stella) have said to me and the belief in me as well.”
Asked whether Verstappen’s situation concerns him, Piastri replied: “I don’t know. It’s important for people to know what the situation is and what the driver market looks like.
“So it’s good to gather information.”
Meanwhile, Haas’ Oliver Bearman also addressed reports linking him with Verstappen’s Red Bull seat. “It’s great to hear stories like that,” the Ferrari junior said.
“Red Bull has achieved incredible success, so even the connection with the team, even if it’s just rumours, is very nice.”
Join Grand Prix Tours in Austin, Texas for the high-energy 2026 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Experience nonstop action on one of Formula 1’s most exciting tracks, featuring dramatic elevation changes, thrilling overtakes, and a packed race weekend. Off the track, enjoy a festival atmosphere with live music, world-famous BBQ, and buzzing nightlife. Your Grand Prix Tours package includes a fully curated race weekend, highlighted by exclusive access to our private F1 Celebrity Talk Show, where guests gain insider insights and behind-the-scenes perspectives. With demand soaring and this event quickly becoming a modern American racing tradition, now is the time to secure your spot for an unforgettable Austin Grand Prix experience.
SHOW PACKAGES
There are motorsport events, and then there is the Indianapolis 500, the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Next year marks Grand Prix Tours' 42nd Indianapolis 500 tour and our decades of experience and local connections provide exclusive access that few fans ever enjoy, including police escorts on race day, a Dallara IndyCar Factory tour, Gasoline Alley and Legends Day, the Driver Introduction Ceremony, and a private dinner with former Indy driver Derek Daly. Combined with excellent hotel accommodations, seamless event planning, and Grand Prix Tours' signature service, this is far more than a race weekend; it's a once-in-a-lifetime motorsport experience. With tour spaces limited each year, we encourage you to reserve your place early for the 111th Indianapolis 500.
SHOW PACKAGES
Experience Formula 1 at its most iconic with an unforgettable trip to the 2027 Grand Prix de Monaco. Feel the excitement as the world’s best drivers race through the legendary streets of Monte Carlo, surrounded by superyachts, Mediterranean views, and the unmistakable glamour of Monaco. From incredible race viewing to carefully selected accommodations, Grand Prix Tours brings you closer to the action at one of the most prestigious and spectacular events in all of motorsport.
SHOW PACKAGES
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the ultimate test of speed, strategy, and endurance. Watch the world's top manufacturers battle for 24 nonstop hours in one of motorsport's most prestigious events. With Grand Prix Tours handling your accommodations, transfers, and ticket options, all that's left is to experience this unforgettable bucket-list race.
SHOW PACKAGES
Feel the roar of Formula 1 at its spiritual home. Silverstone is one of the fastest and most demanding circuits in the world, where brave overtakes, lightning-fast direction changes, and flat-out commitment separate the best from the rest. Combined with the electric atmosphere created by hundreds of thousands of passionate fans, the British Grand Prix delivers a race weekend unlike any other.
SHOW PACKAGES