McLaren CEO Zak Brown has revealed that a hypothetical “banana peel” situation is the only one in which the team would sign Max Verstappen from Formula 1 rivals Red Bull.
The Dutchman’s future at the Milton Keynes-based squad has come under heavy scrutiny for the past year, with initial, summer-long rumours of a switch to Mercedes last year.
These have continued into this year, amid the Silver Arrows’ resurgent form and Red Bull’s slump, but over last weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, new Max Verstappen holds secret talks with McLaren over bombshell F1 switch – report
of secret talks with McLaren surfaced.
Verstappen is thought to have certain clauses in his contract that could see him leave the team, based on its performance.
Despite newfound speed in Austria, finishing second, Verstappen’s future with Red Bull will therefore be based around the RB22’s ability to maintain this level of competitiveness.
The report from the Daily Mail also suggested that a Verstappen switch would see Oscar Piastri move the other way, ensuring a line-up with Lando Norris.
Brown appeared to leave a level of leeway for a possible reality of Verstappen signing, presenting the hypothetical scenario: “If, for some strange reason, someone slipped on a banana peel getting out of the tub, then yeah, of course – Max is a four-time World Champion,” he said.
And speaking to Heart radio station, Brown confirmed happiness in his current line-up, but once again did not firmly shut the door on the idea.
“We’re a hot team. It’s a great place to be,” he said. “We’ve got two awesome drivers in Lando and Oscar, so no intention of seeing a different line-up. But it’s flattering.
“The phone rings often, and he’s [Verstappen] a massive talent, so we’ll see what the future holds, what he ends up doing, but I know what our plan is – it’s to keep going with what we’ve got.”
Brown ‘looking forward to the next 14’ wins from Norris and Piastri
McLaren‘s upturn in fortunes and form was first seen in 2024, with the team clinching the Constructors’ Championship at the final round in Abu Dhabi.
It did so again last year, with Norris eventually taking the Drivers’ crown from Verstappen and Piastri, amid criticism aimed at the team for its ‘Papaya Rules’ stance in which both drivers were handed equal treatment, regardless of title position, leaving Verstappen to close on the pair in the final races.
Brown has been resolute on this particular issue, too, and, when put to him that he was not entirely shutting the Verstappen signing rumours down, was keen to stress that his line-up won all but eight Grands Prix last year between them.
“Any time you’re in sport, you’ve got to know what the market is doing, but we’re not in the market,” he said.
“We need to pay attention because you never know, but Lando and Oscar won 14 for us last year, and I’m looking forward to the next 14.”
Norris took victory at his home race last year, but arrives at Silverstone this weekend in a position of being less likely to repeat the feat.
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