McLaren chief executive Zak Brown has suggested that Red Bull`s performance relies heavily on Max Verstappen, claiming that without the Dutch driver, the team would be behind their sister squad, Racing Bulls. Brown`s remarks come amidst renewed uncertainty surrounding Verstappen`s future in Formula 1.
Reports from Sky in Italy published on Wednesday indicated that Verstappen is open to a potential move to Mercedes, with talks reportedly accelerating ahead of this weekend`s British Grand Prix.
Adding to the speculation, Mercedes driver George Russell commented at the recent Austrian Grand Prix that the delay in his own contract renewal was due to `ongoing conversations`. Team principal Toto Wolff confirmed that these discussions were taking place `behind closed doors`, fueling rumors about Mercedes` plans.
Speaking to Sky Sports News at McLaren`s pre-Silverstone event in London`s Trafalgar Square, Brown stated, “I`m a believer that where there`s smoke, there`s fire. If everyone were definitively committed to their current seats, that`s what they would be saying.” He added that the current lack of confirmation from all parties suggests discussions are indeed happening, reiterating his previous sentiment that he “wouldn`t be surprised to see Max in a Mercedes.”
Verstappen, currently 61 points adrift of championship leader Oscar Piastri, has maintained an unbeaten record against his Red Bull team-mates, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda, this season.
While Verstappen has secured two pole positions and two wins, his team-mates have collectively managed only three points-scoring finishes. Furthermore, Tsunoda has suffered three consecutive eliminations in the first qualifying session (Q1).
Within the wider Red Bull racing family, Liam Lawson has appeared more comfortable in the Racing Bulls car since his return, with both he and Isack Hadjar demonstrating pace that has exceeded that of Red Bull`s own driver, Yuki Tsunoda, in recent outings.
Brown reiterated his assessment of the situation, saying, “Red Bull would be behind Racing Bulls [without Verstappen]. They`ve done a great job and have a great racing car, but I think Max is carrying them at the moment.”
The McLaren CEO also hinted that the speculation linking Verstappen to Mercedes is far from settled, advising observers to “stay tuned because there might be another chapter.”
Lando Norris, who has frequently engaged in close battles with Verstappen over the past year, offered his perspective, stating that the Dutch driver will ultimately “decide where he thinks is best.”
“I don`t particularly care where he decides to go. I appreciate Max as a competitor; he`s a tough opponent, but I enjoy the races we have together,” Norris told Sky Sports News.
Christian Horner Responds to Verstappen Speculation
Verstappen signed a long-term contract with Red Bull in 2022, securing his place with the team until 2028. However, he has been linked with a move to Mercedes since last year.
The 27-year-old clinched his fourth consecutive drivers` world championship in 2024, but speculation regarding his Red Bull future arose amidst various off-track issues within the team, including a notable disagreement between his father, Jos Verstappen, and team principal Christian Horner.
Speculation reignited earlier this year, seemingly fueled by Red Bull`s reduced performance advantage compared to McLaren and Verstappen`s inability to currently challenge for a record-equalling fifth consecutive world title.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 over the weekend, Christian Horner dismissed the rumors surrounding Verstappen`s future, calling them “a lot of noise.” He added, “I think Max gets quite annoyed by it. We are very clear about the contract that we have with Max until 2028.”
Horner further stated that anything being reported about Verstappen`s future is “entirely speculative” and that the team “tend[s] not to pay too much attention to it.”
Commenting on George Russell`s situation at Mercedes, Horner remarked, “I can imagine that George is frustrated he hasn`t been given a contract yet, but that`s between him and his team.”
Regarding Verstappen`s position, Horner asserted, “The situation with Max, we know clearly where we`re at and obviously as does Max. Everything is subject to noise and, obviously, within any contract it remains confidential between the parties.”
Marcus Prine