Max Verstappen was not born to race in the Formula 1 midfield his manager warns Red Bull

Despite Laurent Mekies insisting on Friday that Verstappen wants to remain with Red Bull, Raymond Vermeulen made it clear that loyalty alone will not determine the Dutchman's long-term future. Performance will.

"Our goal is to finish this adventure together with Red Bull," Vermeulen told De Telegraaf. "The spirit of Red Bull and the spirit of Verstappen, they match. We just need a package that allows us to fight at the front. That has always been the foundation."

He then delivered the clearest warning yet to the Milton Keynes team: "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."

Those comments come as Verstappen sits seventh in the 2026 drivers' standings, a position unimaginable for the four-time champion after Red Bull's dramatic fall from the front of the grid. It has fuelled fresh rumours linking him with both Mercedes and, more recently, McLaren as the driver market gathers momentum.

Vermeulen acknowledged Red Bull's optimism over its latest developments: "It is obviously very positive. The foundation is right. Here in Austria, the team is bringing a massive update for the car. Let's hope it has a positive effect, because it's clear we need to make progress. Max is seventh in the championship. That's not where he and Red Bull belong, but it is the reality."

While refusing to be drawn on whether Verstappen could activate an exit clause in his contract, Vermeulen again left every option open: "We now have the time to focus on the car's performance. That has nothing to do with leaving or not leaving.

"We just want to see where we stand and how the car develops. And that means we don't need to say 'yes' or 'no' right now. We have agreements and we stick to them. And loyalty has always been our starting point, from both parties," added Vermeulen.

Earlier on Friday, Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies also addressed Verstappen's future, insisting the Dutchman remains committed to the team - provided it gives him the tools to fight for victories.

"Max has made clear to us that he wants to continue with the team," Mekies said. "It's equally clear that he needs a fast car for him to be happy with the team."

The Frenchman added that Verstappen's concerns over Formula 1's future regulations had been addressed through discussions involving the FIA, Formula 1 and the teams.

Whether that is enough may depend entirely on Red Bull's performance over the coming weeks. With reports suggesting Verstappen could trigger a performance-related exit clause if he remains outside the top two in the championship after next month's Hungarian Grand Prix, every upgrade now carries enormous significance.

For Red Bull, Austria was always expected to be a pivotal weekend. Vermeulen's comments have made the stakes even higher.
(Reporting by Agnes Carlier at Red Bull Ring)