McLaren chief executive Zak Brown says Red Bull would be behind sister team Racing Bulls without Max Verstappen amid fresh uncertainty over the Dutchman’s future.
Sky in Italy reported on Wednesday that Verstappen is open to the move and talks are intensifying ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix.
Mercedes driver George Russell told Sky Sports F1 at last weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix that his own contract extension was being delayed due to “ongoing conversations”, which team principal Toto Wolff admitted were taking place “behind closed doors”.
“I’m a believer of when there’s smoke, there’s fire. If everyone was committed to their seats, that’s what they would be saying,” Brown told Sky Sports News at McLaren’s pre-Silverstone event at Trafalgar Square in London.
“The fact everyone’s talking and no one is confirming anything, tells me there are conversations going on. I said a while ago I wouldn’t be surprised to see Max in a Mercedes.”
Sky Sports reporter Craig Slater explains everything you need to know about Mercedes’ interest in world champion Verstappen
Verstappen, who is 61 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri, has an unbeaten record against his team-mates Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda this year.
While the Dutchman has two pole positions and two wins, his team-mates had just three points-scoring finishes between them and Tsunoda is on a run of three consecutive Q1 eliminations.
Since returning to Racing Bulls, Lawson has been more comfortable in the car, with himself and Isack Hadjar outpacing Red Bull’s Tsunoda.
Former Red Bull technician Calum Nicholas praised Verstappen for his reaction after being taken out by Kimi Antonelli on the first lap of the Austrian Grand Prix
Brown said: “Red Bull would be behind Racing Bulls [without Verstappen]. They have done a great job and have a great racing car. I think Max is carrying them at the moment.”
The McLaren boss also told people to “stay tuned because there might be another chapter” in the Verstappen to Mercedes links.
Amid fresh rumours from Sky Italy that Max Verstappen is in talks with Mercedes, Sky Sports’ Martin Brundle gives his opinion on the possible move
Lando Norris, who has regularly gone wheel to wheel with Verstappen over the last 12 months, says the Dutchman will “decide where he thinks is best”.
“I don’t care where he goes. I appreciate Max as a competitor. He’s a bit tough but I enjoy our battles together,” he told Sky Sports News.
Ride onboard with Antonelli and Verstappen as they collide in the Austrian Grand Prix
Horner: Verstappen speculation is a lot of noise
Verstappen signed a Red Bull contract in 2022 to stay with the team until 2028 but has been linked to Mercedes since last year.
The 27-year-old won a fourth successive drivers’ title in 2024 but there was speculation over his Red Bull future amid several off-track issues at the team, including a feud between his father Jos Verstappen and team principal Christian Horner.
Speculation returned earlier this year, seemingly due to Red Bull’s lack of performance against McLaren, and Verstappen not being able to fight for a record-equalling fifth consecutive title.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner is confident Verstappen will remain with the team and that he won’t replace George Russell at Mercedes
Horner told Sky Sports F1 at the weekend: “It is a lot of noise. I think Max gets quite annoyed by it. We are very clear with the contract that we have with Max until 2028.
“So, anything is entirely speculative that is being said, but we tend not to pay too much attention to it.”
He added: “I can imagine that George is frustrated he hasn’t been given a contract yet, but that’s between him and his team.
“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.”
Sky Sports F1’s British GP schedule
Thursday July 3
2pm: Drivers’ Press Conference
6pm: The F1 Show Special
Friday July 4
8.45am: F3 Practice
9.55am: F2 Practice
12pm: British GP Practice One (session starts at 12.30pm)
1.55pm: F3 Qualifying
2.50pm: F2 Qualifying
3.35pm: British GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)
5.15pm: The F1 Show
Saturday July 5
9.10am: F3 Sprint
11.15pm: British GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.15pm: British GP Qualifying build-up*
3pm: BRITISH GP QUALIFYING*
4.55pm: F4 Race 1
5.40pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday July 6
8.15am: F4 Race 2
9.25am: F3 Feature Race
11am: F2 Feature Race
1.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: British GP build-up*
3pm: THE BRITISH GRAND PRIX*
5pm: Chequered Flag: British GP reaction*
6pm: Ted’s Notebook*
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
Next up in the 2025 Formula 1 season is the big one, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone – live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Showcase with coverage from Thursday to Sunday’s race at 3pm. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime.
Leave a Reply