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McLaren CEO Predicts Verstappen’s Mercedes Switch in F1 2026 Amid Regulatory Reset

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
March 19, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
Zak Brown Takes Swipe at Lando Norris and Sergio Perez, Hails Verstappen’s Supremacy

Formula One F1 - Las Vegas Grand Prix - Las Vegas Strip Circuit, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States - November 21, 2024 McLaren chief executive Zak Brown before practice REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

Is Max Verstappen set to bid farewell to Red Bull post F1 2025? Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, certainly seems to think so. Brown has gone on record stating that he expects Verstappen to shift alliances to Mercedes, a manufacturer he perceives as the most capable ahead of the significant regulatory changes anticipated in F1 2026.

Verstappen, who hopes to clinch a fifth consecutive World Championship with Red Bull in 2025, has been trailing McLaren despite finishing a hairbreadth second to Lando Norris at a thrilling, rain-dampened Grand Prix in Australia. While the Dutch driver regarded his P2 finish as satisfactory given the performance of the trailing teams, he also expressed concerns about Red Bull’s lagging pace and the RB21’s inability to secure a win in the current season.

In the aftermath of a dampened Australian Grand Prix, Verstappen acknowledged the performance gap between his team and the leading McLaren, attributing the deficit to tyre overheating. While he expressed satisfaction with his second-place finish, he also noted that it was a position higher than expected, given McLaren’s Oscar Piastri’s unexpected spinout from P2. Despite the minor victory, Verstappen conceded that there was substantial work ahead for Red Bull if they were to contend for a win.

Verstappen and Red Bull’s dominance in the F1 ground effect era hit a speed bump last season, with the Dutch driver experiencing a winless streak of 10 races. This led to speculation about a potential change of scene for Verstappen, fueled further by Red Bull senior advisor Helmut Marko and team principal Christian Horner’s admission of a performance-based clause in his contract.

Brown predicts that Mercedes and Aston Martin could serve as potential alternate homes for Verstappen in the F1 grid. He pegs his bet on Mercedes for F1 2026, citing the introduction of new chassis powered by revamped engines, featuring an equal split between electrical power and an internal combustion engine.

Aston Martin, with F1 design legend Adrian Newey and an impending engine partnership with Honda, could tempt Verstappen. After all, Newey was instrumental in all of Verstappen’s titles and Red Bull’s overall 14. However, Brown believes that the allure of a well-rounded team and established culture could lead Verstappen to Mercedes, who successfully navigated the last F1 engine change in 2014.

Despite Brown’s predictions, Mercedes’ Toto Wolff, team principal and one-third team owner, has downplayed interest in Verstappen. Wolff, speaking alongside George Russell, Kimi Antonelli, and Mercedes reserve Valtteri Bottas, asserted that his focus remains on the current team lineup. He dismissed the possibility of Verstappen’s recruitment, instead hinting at a potential contract renewal for Russell.

As the F1 sphere awaits the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix and subsequent changes, the question remains – will Verstappen continue with Red Bull or trade in for a new team? One thing’s for certain – the F1 2026 season promises to be a game-changer.

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