McLaren CEO Zak Brown has commented on the recent rumors surrounding Max Verstappen's future. He emphasized that if the three-time world champion leaves Red Bull, he is more likely to join rival team Mercedes.
Idman.Biz reports that news of Verstappen's long-time race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, moving to McLaren has fueled speculation that the Dutch driver will follow him. However, Brown stated in an interview with Sky Sports F1 that he is very satisfied with the Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri duo and has no intention of changing them.
The McLaren boss, while highly appreciating Verstappen's talent, said he considers the current squad the best in the championship:
"Max is a great talent, but we have two superstars and we have long-term contracts with them. If I had to bet, I would say Max will go to Mercedes".
It should be noted that Verstappen's dissatisfaction with the new F1 regulations and Red Bull's unsuccessful start to the season are cited as the main factors questioning the 28-year-old driver's future in the team. The 71-time Grand Prix winner's close ties with the team led by Toto Wolff further increase the likelihood of this transition.