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Permane Downplays Racing Bulls Impact Amid Unconfirmed Verstappen Red Bull Exit Rumours
Alan Permane insists any Red Bull driver shuffle will not destabilise Racing Bulls as unconfirmed reports link Max Verstappen with rival teams.
By Michael de Vries - 2026-08-02T14:20:00.000Z - 3 min read
Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane has dismissed suggestions that any potential departure of Max Verstappen from Red Bull would directly disrupt his own team's operations. Speaking to reporters, Permane stressed that driver decisions for the senior team remain entirely under the authority of Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies. He added that widespread paddock speculation surrounding Verstappen's future involves far too many variables to draw early conclusions.
Unconfirmed reports have continued to link the four-time world champion with a move away from Milton Keynes following a difficult opening half of the championship. Verstappen currently sits seventh in the drivers' standings after ten rounds. Although his contract runs until the end of 2028, it reportedly contains a performance-based exit clause that could allow him to leave at the end of the current season.
McLaren has been mentioned in paddock circles as a potential destination, with speculation raising the possibility of a seat swap involving Oscar Piastri. However, those claims remain strictly unverified and have been firmly rejected by key figures. McLaren Racing chief executive Zak Brown and Verstappen's manager Raymond Vermeulen have both publicly denied that any talks between the two parties are taking place.
Permane made clear that Racing Bulls functions separately regarding its immediate lineup decisions, even if Red Bull chooses to make changes at the main team. Should Mekies decide to promote either Liam Lawson or Arvid Lindblad to a Red Bull seat, Permane confirmed that Racing Bulls would fully back the move. Such a step would require an internal realignment, but Permane insisted his squad would readily adapt.
A promotion to the main team would create an opening within the Faenza-based roster for next season. Permane identified Formula 2 driver Nikola Tsolov, who currently races for Campos Racing in the feeder series, as the primary candidate in line for any vacant Racing Bulls seat. However, Permane noted that any potential driver shuffle depends entirely on decisions yet to be made at the top of the Red Bull program.
The wider driver market remains highly fluid, with several contrasting scenarios still plausible. Beyond the reported interest from rival teams, Verstappen and senior Red Bull figures have consistently indicated that the Dutchman intends to honor his existing agreement. Permane emphasized that with potential driver swaps, potential promotions, and contractual stay options all on the table, evaluating the eventual outcome remains entirely speculative.
For now, Racing Bulls is concentrating on its own campaign while Red Bull addresses its driver structure. Permane reiterated that until Red Bull management defines its path for next year, speculation regarding chain-reaction moves across both squads remains premature.