Zak Brown reveals private Verstappen talks as McLaren keeps future option “wide open”

News Summary

Zak Brown says McLaren’s door remains “wide open” to Max Verstappen
McLaren’s CEO spoke with the Dutchman several times during the summer
Verstappen remains contracted to Red Bull until 2030, making any move a long-term possibility

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has refused to rule out signing Max Verstappen in the future, despite the Dutchman recently extending his Red Bull contract until the end of the 2030 Formula 1 season.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Brown said McLaren’s door remained “wide open” to Verstappen—not necessarily for the immediate future, but potentially for “2028, 2029 or whatever year”.

The American also revealed that he spoke with Verstappen several times during the summer. Brown stressed that the conversations were intended to help him understand the driver away from the intense rivalry surrounding Red Bull and McLaren.

“I spoke with him several times over the summer, simply because I wanted to get to know him better,” Brown told De Telegraaf.

According to the McLaren chief, those meetings reinforced a more positive personal impression of Verstappen. Brown described the champion as charming and suggested that the confrontational figure sometimes presented publicly does not fully reflect his personality away from the paddock spotlight.

The comments represent a noticeable change in tone. Earlier in 2026, Brown said a Verstappen move was unlikely unless Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri “slipped on a banana peel”, emphasising McLaren’s satisfaction with its existing line-up.

That situation has not changed. Norris and Piastri remain central to McLaren’s long-term plans, while Verstappen has committed his future to Red Bull through 2030. Brown’s remarks therefore indicate openness rather than an active attempt to sign him.

There is nevertheless an intriguing connection between the two camps. Verstappen’s long-time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase is expected to join McLaren after completing his Red Bull commitments in 2028. That move has inevitably encouraged speculation, although there is no evidence that Lambiase’s recruitment forms part of a plan to attract Verstappen.

The key distinction is important: McLaren has not confirmed negotiations over a race seat, and Verstappen is not currently available. Brown is simply ensuring that one of Formula 1’s strongest teams does not publicly close the door on the grid’s most valuable driver.

For now, the prospect remains distant. But Brown’s message is clear: if Verstappen ever decides that his Red Bull chapter is over, McLaren wants to be part of the conversation.

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F1 today: FAQ

Why is the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Saturday?

The race takes place on Saturday, September 26, because Sunday is Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day. The entire programme was moved forward, with practice on Thursday and qualifying on Friday.

What time does the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix start?

The Azerbaijan GP starts at 12:00 UK, 07:00 ET and 15:00 local time on Saturday. It will run for 51 laps around the 6.003km Baku City Circuit.

Can Kimi Antonelli win the 2026 F1 championship in Azerbaijan?

Yes. Antonelli arrives in Baku with an 81-point lead over George Russell, making him mathematically capable of securing the championship. To become champion, he must leave Azerbaijan at least 75 points ahead.