Verstappen finally responds to heavy McLaren rumours and his future

The four-time world champion has been persistently linked with a potential move to the Woking-based team alongside Lando Norris, with Oscar Piastri tipped to head in the opposite direction as the driver who would make way.

GPBlog understood that discussions have taken place between the Verstappen camp and McLaren at the Dutchman's request. Those talks involved both Zak Brown and Verstappen directly, as well as meetings between the McLaren CEO and the four-time world champion's management, with a potential deal understood to be an option only in the longer term.

Grilled about his future during the Belgian Grand Prix press conference, Verstappen offered a blunt "no" when asked if he had any updates. Pressed on whether he had a timeline in mind, he simply added: 'There's nothing to say'.

Pressed one final time on whether his answer amounted to a full commitment to honouring his Red Bull contract through the end of 2028, the Dutchman reiterated: "I said there's nothing to say. I don't want to go here, say yes and no and this and that about my future. I said already many times that if there was something new, I would say it myself."

Asked what loyalty between himself and his team meant to him, Verstappen replied: "Just a relationship that you build over all the years and things that the team does for you, the things that you do for the team. And that has always been, to me, really good with Red Bull, of course, from my side. It's like a second family for me."

Verstappen also stressed that discussions within the team remain open as they work to solve the car's current issues. While admitting disappointment can follow difficult race weekends, he explained that the focus quickly shifts back to preparation, insisting his approach and the way Red Bull operates have remained unchanged over the years.