Zak Brown predicts Max Verstappen’s future F1 team as McLaren have ‘no intention’ to change line-up

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Zak Brown believes McLaren would only consider signing Max Verstappen, should he decide to leave Red Bull, if Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri were to join a rival F1 team.

McLaren have emerged as a potential destination for Verstappen in the future after the four-time F1 champion created doubts about his continuity with Red Bull this March. The Woking crew have also seen the links intensify after signing his race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase.

Lambiase has agreed to join McLaren no later than 2028 and he will act as their chief racing officer to remove some of the race weekend strains from team principal, Andrea Stella. The engineer’s transfer has also seen Verstappen be linked with McLaren as they are very close.

It has been reported that McLaren would be most likely to drop Piastri for Verstappen, if the chance to sign the Dutchman materialised. Verstappen may hit the F1 driver market as early as this year, as the 28-year-old is likely to get a release clause in his contract through 2028.

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Zak Brown would ‘bet’ that Max Verstappen will join Mercedes if he leaves Red Bull

Verstappen will have from August to October to use his release clause if he is outside of the top two positions in the F1 drivers’ standings at the summer break. But McLaren CEO Brown does not expect to make a move for Verstappen, as he is very happy with Norris and Piastri.

Instead, if Brown “had to bet” on where Verstappen might go if he leaves Red Bull, he would expect to see the 71-time Grand Prix winner join Mercedes. The Silver Arrows retain a long-standing interest, but Toto Wolff publicly ruled out Mercedes signing Verstappen this March.

Brown told Sky Sports: “From McLaren’s point of view, I couldn’t be happier with Lando and Oscar. We have long-term agreements with them, and I think it is the greatest driver pairing on and off the track, so we have no intention of replacing any of our two superstars.

“Obviously, if one were to go away, yeah, Max is a huge talent, but I’m not anticipating that. Where might he go? If I had to bet, I’d say to Mercedes.”

While Norris and Piastri have long-term contracts for McLaren, it is believed that at least the latter has a break clause in his deal like Verstappen’s release clause at Red Bull. It is said that Piastri can get out of his McLaren contract through 2028 if he thinks the team favour Norris.

Mercedes may be an easier landing spot for Verstappen, if he does decide to leave Red Bull, as George Russell is only under contract with the Silver Arrows through 2026. Russell’s deal includes an option to stay put for 2027 based on his performances during the 2026 season.

It is possible that Russell’s option is even linked to him winning the F1 drivers’ championship this year, which may rule Mercedes out from signing Verstappen. Reports have claimed that Verstappen would be loath to partner Russell at Mercedes, where Wolff remains interested.