McLaren CEO Spills the Beans on Max Verstappen F1 Signing Talks
In a shocking turn of events, McLaren’s top honcho, Zak Brown, has revealed that discussions were indeed held with Max Verstappen’s manager during the recent Formula 1 winter break. Despite already securing the services of their current drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, Brown did not shy away from exploring the possibility of bringing the champion driver on board between the 2024 and 2025 season.
In an exclusive interview with De Telegraaf, Brown confessed, “Oh yes, about that call… It’s my job to explore the market and to know what’s going on. We have to remember that at that time I was also negotiating a new contract with my own driver [Piastri].”
The McLaren team boss further elaborated on his motive behind the talks, stating, “I want to be able to assess whether any stone could start falling over, causing a domino effect. Because that could trigger interest in my driver again. That is the reason I inquired.”
Despite the flirtation with Verstappen, McLaren has solidified their F1 driver lineup with long-term deals for Piastri and Norris. The duo recently clinched a remarkable 1-2 finish at the Miami Grand Prix, further solidifying McLaren’s dominance in the constructors’ championship with a 105-point lead over Mercedes.
Verstappen himself had initially hinted at the discussions between his management and McLaren, humorously mentioning that talks quickly fizzled out once the price tag was mentioned. Brown cryptically responded to the rumors and cost speculations by stating, “Let me put it this way, during that phone call I got the information I needed.”
With McLaren’s current lineup performing exceptionally well on the track, the F1 world is left to wonder what could have been if the talks with Verstappen had materialized into something more concrete. As the season unfolds, the drama off the track seems to be just as compelling as the action on it.
