Max Verstappen to McLaren? CEO Zak Brown gives a crystal-clear answer

At the risk of sounding like a broken record: Max Verstappen has signed a contract with Red Bull Racing until the end of 2028. It’s no secret that the contract contains clearly defined exit clauses. It’s standard practice in the industry that if a driver isn’t in a certain position in the World Championship by a certain point, they’re free to leave.

We do not know the details of the contract between Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing. It is therefore pure speculation that he must be in the top two positions by the F1 summer break (after the Hungarian Grand Prix at the end of July) in order to remain with the team in 2027.

Regardless, loyalty is one of Max Verstappen’s key character traits. Nor is he known as a man who shies away from obstacles or takes the path of least resistance.

Rumours are circulating in the paddock (not for the first time) that Verstappen’s management team has been sounding out the situation at McLaren. Keeping his eyes open is part of the job for Verstappen’s manager, Raymond Vermeulen.

But from a sporting perspective, the question arises: who can guarantee that another team will be significantly better than Red Bull Racing in 2027?

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After McLaren CEO Zak Brown spent months peddling the fairy tale that Verstappen would be moving to Mercedes (which didn’t happen), he has now been confronted with the rumour that Orange might be making the move to Papaya.

Read what the Californian had to say on two different radio stations: “We have two great drivers in Lando and Oscar, and you’ll be seeing them in our cars for a very, very long time to come.” Brown said this on the Chris Moyles Show on Radio X.

On Heart Breakfast (Zak on a promotional tour for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone), Brown went on to say: “We’re a hot team with two fantastic drivers, so there’s no intention of changing the line-up.”

“But the interest is flattering, and the phone rings often, and no one would ever doubt that Verstappen is an enormous talent. I don’t know what he’ll ultimately do. But I know what our plan is – we’re sticking with what we’ve got.”

“I suppose that when you’re in Formula 1, you’re expected to have some idea of what’s going on in the drivers’ market – but we’re not in the market. Lando and Oscar won 14 races for us last year, and I’m looking forward to the next 14.”