​There is still no solid proof that Max Verstappen is seriously weighing up a move to McLaren for the 2027 Formula 1 season, but Andrea Stella did little to completely silence the speculation when the subject came up at the Belgian Grand Prix.
The rumours first gathered momentum around the Austrian Grand Prix, when reports suggested there had been informal contact between Verstappen’s camp and McLaren. The team acknowledged that conversations of some kind had taken place, although nothing was presented as a formal negotiation. Since then, however, the talk has only grown louder, especially as Red Bull’s long-term competitive picture continues to be closely watched.
At Spa-Francorchamps, the speculation intensified further when Verstappen’s father, Jos Verstappen, and his manager, Raymond Vermeulen, were seen visiting McLaren’s hospitality area on Friday. That appearance immediately sparked fresh discussion about a possible link between the reigning world champion and the Woking-based team. However, the visit was later understood to be connected to McLaren junior driver Dries van Langendonck, a young Belgian karting talent who has become associated with the Verstappen management structure.
Even so, the sighting was enough to keep the story alive. With McLaren currently one of Formula 1’s strongest teams and Verstappen’s future always a major talking point, the idea of the Dutchman eventually joining the squad remains an irresistible subject for speculation.
Oscar Piastri has been mentioned in some reports as the McLaren driver who could theoretically be affected if Verstappen ever became available. That suggestion was strongly dismissed by Piastri’s manager, former Red Bull driver Mark Webber, who issued a firm denial when addressing the matter. McLaren already has a highly rated driver line-up in Piastri and Lando Norris, both of whom are central to the team’s current and future ambitions.
A similarly forceful denial, however, did not come from Stella during his media session after qualifying at Spa. The McLaren team principal was asked whether he could end the gossip by confirming that no discussions were taking place between McLaren representatives and Verstappen.
Stella responded with humour rather than a direct rejection. He noted that any opportunity involving a four-time world champion would naturally be fascinating, but joked that McLaren would first need Formula 1 to introduce a third car. He added that such a decision would have to be handled at a much higher political level before McLaren could even think about that possibility.
The answer was clearly tongue-in-cheek. Formula 1 has no current plans to allow teams to run three cars, and Stella’s remark appeared to be a playful way of underlining that McLaren is already committed to Norris and Piastri. Still, the fact remains that he had a chance to shut the story down more firmly and chose not to do so.
Verstappen himself was also asked about the McLaren rumours during the Austrian Grand Prix weekend. As expected, he avoided giving anything away. He said he did not want to get involved in speculation and repeated that if anything ever changed regarding his future, the news would come directly from him rather than through reports elsewhere. His priority, he insisted, remained his work with Red Bull.
That cautious approach is nothing new from Verstappen. For several years, he has refused to offer unnecessary detail when questioned about his long-term plans unless there is a clear message he wants to deliver. He tends to keep future-related answers short, particularly when the rumours are not something he wishes to encourage or deny in detail.
The same attitude was on display again at Spa-Francorchamps during Thursday’s press conference. When host Tom Clarkson raised the latest speculation about his future, Verstappen gave typically brief responses. Asked whether there was any update, he simply said no. Asked what he made of the speculation, he replied that he made nothing of it. When pressed on whether he had a date in mind for a decision, Verstappen again declined to offer anything, saying there was nothing to say from his side.
That leaves the situation in familiar territory. McLaren continues to publicly back its current drivers, Verstappen continues to avoid engaging with rumours, and no concrete evidence has emerged to suggest a 2027 move is genuinely under way. Yet in Formula 1, silence and carefully worded answers often create as much intrigue as outright denials.
For now, the prospect of Max Verstappen joining McLaren remains more paddock gossip than confirmed reality. But with McLaren’s performance on the rise, Red Bull’s future competitiveness under scrutiny, and Verstappen’s name always capable of reshaping the driver market, the speculation is unlikely to disappear quickly.