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Jenson Button believes Max Verstappen is capable of things most “can only dream of”, yet a big issue could arise if McLaren were to replace Oscar Piastri with the Dutchman.
Speculation has once again risen that Piastri could now see his drive at McLaren come under pressure from Verstappen, amid the uncertainties surrounding the latter’s future at Red Bull. Both hold contracts for their respective teams through 2028, but both also have exit clauses.
It is an open secret in the paddock that Verstappen only has to start the 2026 summer break ranked outside the top two in the F1 drivers’ standings to gain the right to quit Red Bull. It is also highly likely that the clause will become available, as he currently only ranks seventh.
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Jenson Button suggests McLaren cannot guarantee Max Verstappen would be a success outside of Red Bull
With a four-time champion possibly on the market for as early as 2027, reports surfaced last week that McLaren have held preliminary talks with Verstappen’s manager about a deal that would see him replace Piastri as Lando Norris’ teammate next term or, failing that, for 2028.
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Raymond Vermeulen, Verstappen’s manager, has denied holding any talks with McLaren for a seat for 2027. And while Button is a big fan of what Verstappen can offer, the fact that the 28-year-old has never driven for an F1 team outside the Red Bull family should put McLaren CEO Zak Brown off rushing into a move as you cannot tell how he will adapt to a new home.
Button told select media, including F1 Oversteer, during ViaGoGo’s Paddock Pass ahead of the British Grand Prix: “It’s a really tricky situation for someone like Zak. Both drivers have contracts, first of all, so a driver’s got to want to leave. Maybe that’s the case?
“Maybe one of them does want to leave, maybe they want to try somewhere else, racing in a different team. Who knows? But trying to get rid of one of the two drivers who were fighting for the world championship last year, that’s a tall ask.
“And I understand how good Max is. He’s a four-time world champion, and he can do things with cars that most of us can only dream of. But you still don’t know when he goes to McLaren if he’s going to fit within that team? He’s only ever been at Red Bull.
“So, it’s going to be a very different environment. And why change something that seems to be working? Having two drivers who have won races and both were fighting for the championship until the last race last season. It’s a tough one to call, it really is.”
Jenson Button is ‘not sure’ whether McLaren have ‘peace’ with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri
Who other than Max Verstappen could Oscar Piastri have chosen as his toughest opponent?
Button adds that one reason why McLaren CEO Brown would consider signing Verstappen at Piastri or Norris’ expense, beyond the Red Bull driver’s talents, however, would be if there is not “peace” in Woking and one of the papaya outfit’s current drivers actually wants to leave.
It is also only natural that Verstappen and his manager, Vermeulen, are at least exploring the market for 2027 all the while he could move, given Red Bull’s difficult start to 2026. It is said that Verstappen can use his exit clause between August and October if it becomes available.
On top of Red Bull’s difficult start to the 2026 regulations, Verstappen has also seen a raft of big names leave – potentially soon to be including Paul Monahan. But Red Bull’s upgrades at the Austrian Grand Prix putting Verstappen in the fight to win might help tempt him to stay.
Button said: “Do they have peace at McLaren? I’m not sure about that. It’s always a tricky one when you’ve got two drivers who are very competitive, and their managers are very competitive, as well.
“The thing for me with Max, he knows the environment at Red Bull. I’m sure with certain people leaving the team, he’s wondering why? GP [Gianpiero Lambiase] leaving, Jonathan Wheatley, and obviously Pedals, Paul Monahan, as you’d know him, leaving the team, which is a big deal. These are people in big roles, aerodynamicists leaving, Adrian Newey leaving.
“So, he’s probably thinking, where do we go from here? So, his manager would be wrong not to ask around for other opportunities in the sport. Max has a shelf life, because he will get bored with being in the middle of the field, and he will want to go and race in something else.
“He is an unbelievable talent that I personally have never seen before what he can do with the race car, but he wants to have fun. He wants to enjoy himself, and fighting further down the field isn’t what he’s here for.
“I think looking at how Red Bull did in Austria, he would definitely be relatively positive about what he’s able to achieve with the car against Mercedes, who are doing such a good job in terms of both drivers are quick, [and the] car is working well pretty much everywhere.
“For Red Bull to be up there with them at the end and within a second of the win will give him a lot of confidence, and he finished so far in front of the McLarens.
“So, for a racing driver, it’s very difficult to pick and choose where you want to be in the future, and I have to say, you have to be selfish about it. You really do. It’s very easy to make the wrong call, and that is your career done.”
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