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Max Verstappen to McLaren? Zak Brown Keeps the Door Open for a Blo….. read more 👇 full details in the comments section 

Max Verstappen’s future may be tied to Red Bull on paper, but speculation surrounding a possible move to McLaren has not completely disappeared. A transfer involving the four-time Formula 1 world champion would represent one of the biggest driver moves the sport has seen in years, potentially comparable to Lewis Hamilton’s switch from Mercedes to Ferrari.

Red Bull appeared to secure Verstappen’s long-term future in late August when the Dutch driver announced a new contract extension that is expected to keep him with the team until 2030. The agreement provided a major boost for Red Bull, particularly after months of speculation about whether Verstappen could leave for another team.

However, the exact details of the new contract have not been publicly revealed. That has naturally left room for continued speculation about possible exit clauses or other conditions that could allow Verstappen to leave before the end of the agreement. As with many major sporting contracts, an agreement does not necessarily make a transfer impossible if both the driver and another team are willing to make a deal.

Reports have suggested that Verstappen’s new Red Bull contract could be worth approximately $100 million per year, underlining his enormous value within Formula 1. Despite committing his future to Red Bull, Verstappen reportedly considered opportunities elsewhere before making his decision. Mercedes and McLaren were among the teams believed to have attracted his attention.

McLaren became particularly interesting because Verstappen reportedly held discussions with team CEO Zak Brown. Those conversations were described as serious, although Brown has explained that their discussions were primarily about getting to know each other and exploring what might be possible in the future.

Now, Brown has once again fueled speculation by making it clear that McLaren has not closed the door on Verstappen.

“The door is still wide open for Max,” Brown said, adding that he could potentially see the Dutchman joining McLaren in 2028, 2029 or another year in the future. Brown also admitted that he would like the opportunity to work with Verstappen someday.

The McLaren boss revealed that his conversations with Verstappen left an even stronger impression than he had expected. While Brown has publicly expressed satisfaction with his current driver pairing of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, he acknowledged that Verstappen is a driver he would be interested in working with.

According to Brown, the discussions were initially exploratory. His intention was simply to understand Verstappen better and learn more about his personality and approach to racing. However, Brown said he came away from those conversations particularly impressed by Verstappen as an individual.

Interestingly, Brown described Verstappen as “charming,” a quality he admitted might surprise people who do not know the Dutchman personally. He also praised Verstappen as a pure racer and suggested that getting to know him changed his perception of the Red Bull driver.

Brown also compared Verstappen’s approach to motorsport with that of former McLaren driver Fernando Alonso. The American believes both drivers share an exceptional level of focus and dedication when it comes to improving their performance.

He pointed to Verstappen’s involvement in the GT3 programme and his technical understanding as examples of the driver’s commitment to motorsport beyond simply competing in Formula 1.

Brown recalled a similar experience with Alonso during McLaren’s involvement in the Indianapolis 500. While travelling on a plane, Brown noticed that Alonso was intensely focused on his screen instead of relaxing. Alonso was reportedly watching onboard footage from a previous Indianapolis 500, studying all 200 laps of the race.

For Brown, that moment demonstrated Alonso’s determination to leave nothing to chance. He believes Verstappen possesses a comparable mindset, constantly looking for ways to understand racing and improve his performance.

For now, Verstappen remains committed to Red Bull, while McLaren continues with Norris and Piastri. Nevertheless, Brown’s comments ensure that speculation about a future Verstappen-McLaren partnership is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

If circumstances change in the coming seasons, the possibility of Verstappen wearing McLaren colours could become one of the most talked-about stories in Formula 1.