McLaren Formula 1 boss Zak Brown has openly stated that the door remains wide open for Max Verstappen to join the team in the future, despite the Dutchman's new long-term contract with Red Bull until the end of 2030. Brown's comments came after he admitted to having conversations with Verstappen last summer to get to know him better.
In an interview with Dutch publication De Telegraaf, Brown revealed he was impressed by Verstappen's personality. "If I had to use one word to describe him now, it would be a word that wouldn't have occurred to me before those conversations: charming. I bet no one who doesn't know him well would describe him that way. But I'm really impressed by him. A racer through and through," Brown said.
Brown also added that the talks were exploratory and did not rule out a future collaboration. "The door is still wide open for Max. For 2028, 2029, or whatever year. I enjoyed getting to know him better and would love to work with him someday," he continued.
Although Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until 2030, reports suggest there are performance clauses that could allow the four-time world champion to leave early if Red Bull continues to struggle for competitiveness in 2026. This opens the possibility for McLaren to sign him, but it would create a dilemma as McLaren currently has Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri under long-term contracts.
Norris, the reigning world champion, is contracted until 2030, while Piastri until 2028. If Verstappen were to join, McLaren would have to drop one of their current drivers. Brown himself expressed satisfaction with his current lineup but did not close the door on future changes.
Verstappen is known for his deep involvement in technical development, as seen in his GT3 program. Brown compared him to Fernando Alonso, who also possesses high technical proficiency. "His focus and the way he looks at motorsport from a driver's perspective I found very impressive," Brown added.
With this situation, Verstappen's future in Formula 1 remains an intriguing speculation. If Red Bull cannot provide a competitive car, it is not impossible that Verstappen will seek a new challenge, and McLaren could be an attractive destination.
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