What Max Verstappen’s manager has now told Red Bull F1 chiefs about his future demands

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Max Verstappen ended up being at the centre of the Formula 1 driver market conversation this season, despite his Red Bull Racing contract running for several more years.

Red Bull are putting all of their effort into helping Max Verstappen become a five-time world champion with four race weekends to go this season.

McLaren stopped developing their car earlier this year, but Red Bull are still bringing updates in the hope that Verstappen can pull off one of the greatest comebacks in F1 history.

When the Dutchman crossed the line in ninth at the Hungarian Grand Prix, those hopes were over, but the 28-year-old has proven why he’s regarded by many as the quickest driver on the grid with the nature of his comeback.

However, when Red Bull were struggling, Verstappen was being increasingly linked with a move to Mercedes for the 2026 F1 season.

Verstappen had an escape clause in his contract, but it wasn’t activated due to sitting third in the drivers’ championship at the summer break.

His manager, Raymond Vermeulen, has now spoken about what Red Bull must do to keep Verstappen, and what he’s heard about the team’s 2026 car ahead of F1’s changing regulations.

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Max Verstappen’s manager says he needs Red Bull to provide ‘material to keep winning’

Vermeulen was asked on The Inside Track whether this season’s late turnaround will make it more likely that Verstappen will stay at Red Bull for the longer term.

He explained: “I think, like I said, Max is very respectful to the people. Red Bull was there from day one; they put them in the car, they made the effort, and they prepared them very well to enter Formula 1.

“So, yes, we are loyal, but on the other hand, I also told the management we have the quickest driver in the paddock, and I want to have the quickest material for that.

“So, it seems to be that we are still in the front, but it is a very competitive world, but what I can see, even with the engine program, they are putting everything together to build a very good car and package too.

“For the moment, we’re very happy where we are, but of course, we need the material to keep winning.”

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Max Verstappen admits he wasn’t on Lando Norris’ level at the Mexican Grand Prix

Verstappen needs to overcome a 36-point deficit between now and the chequered flag flying at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to win a fifth drivers’ championship.

Considering that at one point this season he was more than 100 points back, nobody is going to write the 28-year-old off yet.

Verstappen admitted he wasn’t on Lando Norris’ level in Mexico, as the new championship leader produced the best performance of his Formula 1 career.

The question for Norris, and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, is whether they can deal with the pressure of the next four races.

Verstappen produced one of F1’s all-time greatest drives at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix last year to win the race from 17th on the grid.

If the weather forecast at Interlagos is for rain, then Verstappen will almost certainly continue to close the gap to his two nearest rivals.