Zak Brown addresses the Max Verstappen rumors
The F1 paddock is buzzing with talk regarding the future of Max Verstappen, even though the Dutchman is tied to Red Bull through 2028. McLaren CEO Zak Brown has heard enough of the speculation, stepping up in Austria to clarify that his team is not in the market for a change. Brown expressed total confidence in his current drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, noting, “I’d be very surprised if Oscar or Lando went elsewhere as they are very happy.”
While Max Verstappen is a four-time World Champion, Brown made it clear that McLaren is committed to their current lineup. Even Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff echoed this sentiment, confirming his satisfaction with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. For now, the focus at Red Bull remains on performance. Laurent Mekies emphasized that the team’s priority is developing the machine, stating, “Max has made clear to us that he wants to continue with the team.”
Max Verstappen himself proved that the noise outside the cockpit hasn't slowed his pace, delivering what was arguably his best race of the season in Austria. Starting from fifth on the grid, he fought his way to a second-place finish, trailing the winner by less than two seconds. While he currently sits 98 points behind Kimi Antonelli in the Drivers’ Championship, the latest Red Bull upgrades proved the car is back in the fight.
