Verstappen: Brown ‘stirring things’ with Red Bull F1 exodus claim

Max Verstappen has criticised McLaren Formula 1 CEO Zak Brown’s comments that Adrian Newey’s impending departure could prompt a staff exodus from Red Bull.

Brown has said that McLaren has received an increased count of CVs from Red Bull affiliates amid the team’s ongoing power struggle involving boss Christian Horner.

Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff added fuel to the fire as he supported those words, prompting Horner to mention Red Bull has hired 220 people from the marque.

Verstappen believes that Brown, whose McLaren team beat Red Bull and the Dutchman to the win in Miami, is attempting to destabilise the reigning World Champions.

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“He obviously wants to stir things up. For us as a team we can’t do anything with comments like that,” Verstappen told Motorsport.com

“From his point of view, I understand it of course, because everyone is trying to attract our people and that is completely normal in the world of Formula 1 as well.

“But I’m not really interested in those things either. I see the headlines, but I don’t even click on them.”

Verstappen hinted that other Red Bull senior members are tied down to long-term deals amid the announcement that design legend Newey will depart next Spring.

However, the Dutchman, who is contracted to Red Bull through 2028, accepts that vital cogs remaining in position are dependent on those individuals being content.

“In life you can never guarantee everything. It’s also possible that I won’t wake up tomorrow morning, so in the end you never know things 100 per cent for sure in life anyway,” he said.

“A lot of agreements are made, but in the end it’s also about everyone being happy with their work and feeling appreciated within the team. There are a lot of human aspects involved as well.”

Verstappen has been linked with a move to Mercedes to replace Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton, but he reiterated last week that his intention is to remain with Red Bull.

Red Bull Managing Director Oliver Mintzlaff slammed Wolff’s public pursuit to secure Verstappen’s services, arguing that he should focus on Mercedes’ woes instead.