Zak Brown Clears the Air on McLaren and Verstappen Speculation
Zak Brown has addressed rumors linking Max Verstappen with a move to McLaren, expressing satisfaction with current drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Despite paddock chatter, McLaren's CEO seems content with his team's lineup.
As the F1 paddock buzzes with the latest round of silly season rumors, one name inevitably surfaces: Max Verstappen. Though the Dutchman is secured with Red Bull through 2028, whispers of a possible early exit have made their way through the Austrian Grand Prix weekend. However, McLaren CEO Zak Brown has firmly dismissed the notion of Verstappen joining his team, backing his current drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
"I’d be very surprised if Oscar or Lando went elsewhere as they are very happy," Brown told Sky Sports F1, adding that contracts aside, the team and drivers are satisfied with their current arrangement. In a sport where contracts can sometimes seem as fragile as carbon fiber, Brown humorously suggested that only a bizarre accident, like slipping on a banana peel, might open the door for Verstappen.
Both Norris and Piastri are tied to multi-year agreements with McLaren. While the team isn't as competitive as last season, when they clinched both titles, there's no sign of discontent from the drivers. Toto Wolff of Mercedes echoed Brown's sentiments, showing no interest in disrupting his own lineup, which includes George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
Meanwhile, Verstappen's focus appeared undisturbed by the speculation, as he delivered an impressive performance in Austria, climbing from fifth to second. Red Bull's latest upgrades seem to have paid off, with Verstappen comfortably outpacing the Ferraris and challenging the Mercedes cars. Although he trails 98 points behind Drivers’ Championship leader Antonelli, Verstappen has previously closed similar gaps.
Red Bull’s Laurent Mekies was quick to assure that Verstappen is committed to the team, despite the murmurs of performance clauses that might allow an early exit. "Max has made clear to us that he wants to continue with the team," Mekies stated, emphasizing that the focus remains on delivering a competitive car.
If Verstappen's recent form continues, discussions about his departure may well be silenced, much like last season when he fought valiantly until the final race. For now, the McLaren-Verstappen connection seems more a product of imagination than reality.