Max Verstappen has announced the signing of Belgian driver Dries van Langendonck to his Verstappen Racing operation. The 15-year-old will continue as a member of McLaren’s Driver Development Programme while receiving additional support and guidance from Verstappen and his management team.
Van Langendonck joined McLaren’s driver development programme in July 2024, transitioning from karting to Formula 4. He secured the 2023 World Junior Karting title before moving into single-seater racing. His single-seater debut came at the end of the 2025 season with Rodin Motorsport, where he achieved pole position and a victory in the British F4 Championship.
Earlier this season, van Langendonck won the 2026 Formula Winter Series, claiming nine victories across fifteen races. He currently leads the drivers’ standings in the 2026 F4 British Championship. Last weekend, he secured a double victory at Circuit Zandvoort, which allowed him to regain the championship lead from Lewis Wherrell.
Van Langendonck also won the season opener at Donington Park on April 18, 2026, where he set a new lap record and secured the pole position. He races with Rodin Motorsport and hails from Zolder, Belgium. His karting career includes seven championship titles.
Verstappen Racing, established in 2022 and supported by Red Bull, competes in GT3, rally, and sim racing. This move marks Verstappen’s first venture into junior driver management. The operation includes Verstappen Racing Pro Simulation, a professional training facility launched in 2025.
The Pro Simulation facility features two 180-degree Simulator Domes, one for formula cars ranging from F4 to F1, and another for GT racing. It provides personalized, data-driven coaching with world-class physics models. Training modules cover consistency, precision, racecraft, decision-making, race simulation, and adaptability for various scenarios.
‘I am impressed by the steep progress that Dries has made during his career and the talent he has shown both in karting and in his first steps in open formula racing,’ Verstappen stated. ‘After getting to know Dries and his family, I’m convinced that all the signs for becoming a great future driver are there. Therefore, my management team and I will, with the simulator support of Verstappen Racing Pro Simulation, assist Dries to reach the ultimate goal of Formula 1.’
The signing occurs amidst ongoing speculation regarding Max Verstappen’s own Formula 1 future. Verstappen can formally trigger an exit clause in his Red Bull contract for the 2027 season. This clause allows him to depart if he is not within the top two positions in the drivers’ standings by the summer break, which occurs after the Hungarian Grand Prix on July 26, 2026.
Following a retirement at the British Grand Prix on July 5, Verstappen has accumulated 76 points in the championship. He can achieve a maximum of 126 points by the summer break. However, George Russell (Mercedes) currently holds second place with 154 points, and Lewis Hamilton is third with 147 points. This mathematical reality means Verstappen’s highest possible position by the summer break is fourth, enabling him to activate the exit clause.
Red Bull reportedly offered €8 million (£6.83 million) to buy out this exit clause, an offer Verstappen declined. Despite this, his manager, Raymond Vermeulen, stated in June that while exit clauses exist, they have never been exercised, and the intention is to remain loyal to Red Bull. Vermeulen also indicated Verstappen wants to complete his current Red Bull contract.
Reports indicate that talks were initiated by Verstappen’s camp with McLaren last week. However, McLaren CEO Zak Brown has maintained that Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will not be leaving the team. Other leading teams, including Ferrari and Mercedes, also have their driver lineups committed for the 2027 season, limiting Verstappen’s immediate options elsewhere. Verstappen is required to inform Red Bull Racing of his decision by October at the latest if he intends to leave after this season.
