Ted Kravitz suggests Zak Brown may have leaked McLaren’s Max Verstappen talks to play with Red Bull

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Ted Kravitz would not be “surprised” if Zak Brown leaked the claims that McLaren are in talks with Max Verstappen to create “heat” for Red Bull at the Austrian Grand Prix.

The Formula 1 paddock has set up camp in Red Bull’s backyard this weekend for round eight of the 2026 season. But a lot of the talk going into the Austrian GP weekend was about four-time champion Verstappen possibly replacing Oscar Piastri at McLaren as early as next term.

It was a similar scenario a year ago, when much of the talk ahead of the 2025 Austrian GP at the Red Bull Ring came after George Russell revealed that Mercedes and Verstappen were in talks for 2026. In the end, those talks did not lead to a transfer as he could not quit Red Bull.

Ted Kravitz suggests Zak Brown put ‘heat’ on Red Bull by leaking McLaren’s Max Verstappen talks

Verstappen had to hit the 2025 summer break sitting outside the top three in the F1 drivers’ standings, but the Dutchman’s release clause was invalid as he was third. This year, however, Verstappen will have from August until October to use a release clause if he is not in the top two at the 2026 summer break, which is only four rounds away – including the Austrian GP.

READ MORE: The best moments of Max Verstappen’s career in Formula 1

So, with the 71-time Grand Prix winner potentially on the market, claims have surfaced that McLaren have held preliminary talks with Verstappen. And Kravitz would not be surprised if Brown actually leaked McLaren’s talks, in a bid to play with Red Bull before their home race.

Kravitz claimed on Sky Sports F1 (27/06, 17:31): “Does the Max to McLaren story come from McLaren? I don’t know.

“It is the kind of thing that Zak Brown would do in the Piranha Club way of stirring it up, making heat for Red Bull at their home race. I mean, it’s exactly the kind of Piranha Club move that would have been made way back when.

“I haven’t seen Zak Brown to ask him, so I don’t know whether he did suggest the story to the tabloid that Max could come to McLaren. But it wouldn’t surprise me, should we put it that way?”

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The theory is that McLaren have opened talks with Verstappen about a move for potentially as soon as 2027, or failing that 2028, to form an all-star line-up with Lando Norris. It has also been suggested that Piastri could replace Verstappen at Red Bull in 2027, if a move happens.

But there may be more weight to Kravitz’s idea that Brown has simply toyed with Red Bull at their home race than the claims that Verstappen could actually replace Piastri at McLaren in 2027. Verstappen’s agent, Raymond Vermeulen, has also already moved to end the rumour.

Vermeulen told BILD: “There’s nothing to it. There were no negotiations. As I said, we’ll wait and see how the car develops over the next few weeks. We definitely want to stay with Red Bull, but with a car capable of winning.”

Recently, Verstappen’s manager revealed that he will tell Red Bull his plans “soon”, and that the Dutchman would ideally like to “remain loyal” to the Austrian-owned squad with whom he has raced since 2016 and who paved his route to Formula 1 aged only 17 years old in 2015.

Having a competitive car with which he can compete for the F1 drivers’ championship is the main aspect that will determine Verstappen’s future, though. Ahead of the Austrian GP this Sunday, Verstappen is only seventh in the standings with a 60-point deficit to second place.