Zak Brown Dismisses Verstappen McLaren Switch Talk

Zak Brown has again dismissed speculation linking Max Verstappen with a move to McLaren. The McLaren Racing CEO insisted at Silverstone that there had been no serious development from reported conversations between the team and Verstappen’s camp.

Rumours over Verstappen’s future have intensified in recent weeks after reports suggested the Red Bull driver’s management had explored preliminary contact over a possible switch for the 2027 Formula 1 season. The situation has developed while Verstappen sits seventh in the 2026 Drivers’ Championship on 73 points.

That position has been linked to a reported performance-related exit clause in his Red Bull contract, which could theoretically allow Verstappen to leave before the deal expires in 2028. However, neither Verstappen nor Red Bull has officially confirmed any activation of such a clause.

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“They are rumours? No conversations,” Brown said during the FIA team representatives’ press conference ahead of the British Grand Prix.

Brown then underlined that McLaren remains satisfied with its current driver pairing. The Woking-based team has Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, both of whom remain central to its competitive project.

“I am very happy with my two racing drivers, Lando and Oscar. Any time a name like Max is thrown around, everyone gets pretty excited. He is a four-time world champion, but I am very happy with our driver line-up,” Brown said.

When asked whether any possible Verstappen move would not happen soon, Brown replied that this was correct. He was also clear when asked how serious the reported talks had been.

“They did not go anywhere. I have got my two drivers, so there is nothing to report,” Brown said.

Verstappen has also avoided engaging deeply with the speculation. At Silverstone, the Dutch driver said he would not involve himself in the rumours and stressed that if anything changed, the information would come from him rather than from outside reports.

Brown’s stance reinforces McLaren’s position that driver stability remains its priority. While Verstappen’s name will always carry significant weight in the driver market, McLaren’s current focus is on developing Norris and Piastri in the fight for major results in 2026 and preparation for the next regulatory phase.