McLaren’s ‘majority shareholders’ are blocking Zak Brown from offering Max Verstappen a seat

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McLaren CEO Zak Brown is facing a problem in the form of the team’s “majority shareholders” as he continues his pursuit of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, according to F1 pundit Ralf Schumacher.

The rumours surrounding a shock F1 switch from Red Bull to McLaren for Max Verstappen have been gaining traction in recent weeks, with one of the Austrian energy drinks company’s co-owners reportedly wanting to sever ties with the Dutchman.

Both Andrea Stella and Zak Brown have expressed an interest in Verstappen and the talents that he would bring to the Woking-based F1 outfit, but getting a deal over the line is proving to be a lot more complicated than simply signing on the dotted line.

• READ MORE: Red Bull co-owner decides he wants to ‘sever ties’ with Max Verstappen

Ralf Schumacher says McLaren’s majority shareholders ‘insist’ on contracts being honoured

During the latest episode of the Backstage Boxengasse podcast, Ralf Schumacher outlined how he’d been told that Oscar Piastri had “lost faith in McLaren” ever since they favoured Lando Norris over him at last year’s Italian Grand Prix.

The Australian has been a shell of his former self so far this season, and the rumours linking Verstappen to a seat at McLaren will have certainly made his position at the front-running F1 team all the more awkward.

However, according to Schumacher, Piastri now holds the trump card regarding Brown’s pursuit of the Dutchman.

“McLaren apparently has an offer ready, but the real problem is that they have a current contract with Oscar Piastri,” the German pundit said, before adding, “The majority shareholders insist on their contracts being honoured, as they’re still open.”

“If there were a solution now – a sort of compromise – that’s certainly conceivable.”

• READ MORE: McLaren and Mercedes agree on the one problem with signing Max Verstappen

A compromise could be on the way, too. It recently emerged that Piastri could terminate his current deal with McLaren to pave the way for his own exit from the team. His current contract is understood to run through 2028.

In turn, this would open the door for Brown to secure Verstappen’s signature, given that the qualms of McLaren’s “majority shareholders” would be eased by Piastri doing all of the heavy lifting.