McLaren chief Zak Brown has admitted that he wants Max Verstappen to reject a move to Mercedes and stay at Red Bull. The reignng world champion has been linked with a potential move to the Silver Arrows ahead of next season. He remains tied down until 2028 but could leave Red Bull before then due to a clause in his contract.
Verstappen would reportedly be free to move teams if he falls outside the top three in the standings at some point during the summer. It has also been claimed that Red Bull slipping to fourth in the Constructors’ Championship table could trigger a similar scenario. They currently sit 38 points adrift of third-placed Mercedes at the halfway point of the campaign.
Red Bull’s lacklustre form has fuelled speculation that Verstappen could seek a way out, with Mercedes seemingly in pole position. Brown, however, wants the Dutchman to stay in his current surroundings.
During a recent appearance on the Sports Agents podcast, the McLaren boss was quizzed on the rumours of Verstappen moving to Mercedes and made his feelings crystal clear.
“I think Mercedes is a team on the rise,” said Brown. “Red Bull at the moment has challenges. It doesn’t mean that they can’t fix those challenges, but Max in a Mercedes is pretty uncomfortable to think about because he’s awesome.”
Explaining how such a move would shake up the F1 grid, the American added: “I think I’d rather he stay where he is. I think it would be a disaster for Red Bull if they lost Max.”
It has been a turbulent few weeks for Red Bull, who will go into next weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix with a new leader in the garage. Laurent Mekies has been promoted to replace Christian Horner, who was relieved of his duties earlier this month.
Speaking at the British Grand Prix, which proved to be his final race with Red Bull, the 51-year-old explained that 2027 could be the main focus for Verstappen when it comes to deciding his future.
He believes the Dutchman will wait and see how Red Bull cope with next year’s regulation changes before making any big decisions.
“I think 2026 represents the biggest regulation change, with both chassis and engine, probably in the last 50 years of Formula One,” said Horner.
“Max is probably the most in-demand driver. He’s the best in the world. He is absolutely, unequivocally, the best driver. When you think of it objectively, staying where he is, he’s going to have all of those options that it won’t be just with one team.
“It will be with all of the teams for 2027 and it’s down to us to demonstrate that we’re on the right trajectory, that we’re performing, we’re progressing and that Red Bull is the right place for him to be longer term.
“His desire, and he’s said it numerous times, is to finish his career in a Red Bull car from start to finish and I think if he sees that there is that potential, then I don’t see why that isn’t achievable.
“But of course, he’s also hungry to achieve more wins, more titles that his talent deserves, so I think it’s more about 2027 than perhaps about 2026.”
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