McLaren has clarified why Raymond Vermeulen, the manager of Max Verstappen, spent time in its team hospitality suite on Friday ahead of this weekend’s Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix.
The Dutchman has been at the centre of speculation that he has been holding talks with the Woking-based squad since initial reports over the Austrian Grand Prix weekend a month ago.
Since then, the rumour mill has continued to churn, and at a faster rate, with Motorsport Week and other outlets reporting that, despite there not being a definitive decision, talks between the two have ramped up significantly.
On Thursday’s media day at Spa-Francorchamps, Verstappen issued non-committal denials of the talks or potential switch, which would rock the world of F1.
The four-time World Champion, when pressed continuously on the subject, said there was “nothing to say from my side,” in an attempt to rebuff the onslaught of questioning aimed at him.
Raymond Vermuelen, manager of Max Verstappen, was sighted stepping into McLaren team hospitality, amid the ongoing rumours that he is in talks with the team.
— Jack Oliver Smith (@The_Front_Jack) July 17, 2026
But McLaren clarified it was due to its academy driver, Dries Van Langendonck, signing with Verstappen Racing management pic.twitter.com/SAI08p6jeW
Whilst it is not uncommon for a myriad of figures in the paddock to be seen wandering into the hospitality buildings of squads not necessarily related to them, the image – obtained by Motorsport Week – of Vermuelen walking up the steps to the papaya-tinted suite would have no doubt triggered lips moving.
Motorsport Week understands that Verstappen’s father Jos was also spotted leaving the same building together a short time afterwards, the pair having been filmed in what many deemed to be a heated exchange with Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies after the British Grand Prix, where Verstappen crashed out late due to a rear wing failure.
But McLaren has confirmed to Motorsport Week that Vermuelen was at its hospitality to spend time with Dries Van Langendonck, a member of its Driver Development Programme, who has signed for Verstappen Racing’s management team.
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