Zak Brown Says McLaren Door Remains Wide Open for Max Verstappen
- McLaren CEO Zak Brown has revealed that he held exploratory talks with Max Verstappen last summer to better understand the Red Bull Racing driver, adding that the Formula...
- Brown explained that the personal meetings were purely exploratory and unrelated to any immediate transfer plans.
- Als ik nu één woord zou mogen gebruiken om hem te beschrijven, dan zou dat een woord zijn dat vóór die gesprekken niet in mij was opgekomen.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has revealed that he held exploratory talks with Max Verstappen last summer to better understand the Red Bull Racing driver, adding that the Formula 1 team’s door remains wide open for a future collaboration.
Zak Brown holds secret summer talks with Max Verstappen
Brown explained that the personal meetings were purely exploratory and unrelated to any immediate transfer plans.
Inside the McLaren CEO’s personal impression of the champion
Ik heb Max afgelopen zomer een paar keer gesproken. Gewoon, omdat ik hem beter wilde leren kennen. Als ik nu één woord zou mogen gebruiken om hem te beschrijven, dan zou dat een woord zijn dat vóór die gesprekken niet in mij was opgekomen. Namelijk: charmant. Ik wed dat niemand die hem niet goed kent, hem zo zou typeren. Maar ik ben echt onder de indruk van hem. Een racer pur sang
Zak Brown, via De Telegraaf and GPFans
Despite the positive impression, Brown confirmed that McLaren’s driver lineup remains locked in place. Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri hold firm contracts with the Woking-based squad, and Brown expressed complete satisfaction with his current roster. Meanwhile, Verstappen’s long-term future is secured with Red Bull Racing under a contract running through the end of 2030, putting earlier speculation regarding exit clauses to rest.
Drawing direct parallels to Fernando Alonso
Brown drew parallels between Verstappen’s meticulous approach to motorsport and the work ethic of Fernando Alonso. The McLaren boss highlighted Verstappen’s active involvement in GT3 racing and his deep technical understanding of machinery as proof of an unyielding racer’s mindset.
To illustrate this level of dedication, Brown recalled a flight to the Indy 500 with Alonso, where the Spanish driver spent the entire journey reviewing onboard camera footage from a previous edition of the race. Brown noted that Verstappen exhibits a similarly obsessive focus on the finer details of racing.
Leaving the door wide open for future seasons
While an immediate driver swap is off the table, Brown made it clear that McLaren’s interest extends well beyond the current regulation cycle. He admitted that while he hates competing against the Dutch driver on track, he would welcome the chance to work alongside him eventually.
