McLaren’s Zak Brown explains why he’s monitoring Verstappen’s potential move and his confidence in Mercedes for future challenges.
Zak Brown, the CEO of McLaren F1, is not surprised by Red Bull’s struggles after the wave of departures over the past two years. However, he is surprised by how Christian Horner and Helmut Marko maintain that these departures have had no impact on the Milton Keynes team.
“It’s not surprising to see people like Adrian Newey, Rob Marshall, Jonathan Wheatley, and probably others leave,” says Brown. “But from what I’ve read, Red Bull is saying they won’t miss them. But it seems like they definitely will. Rob Marshall now works with us as Chief Designer, and he’s a very smart engineer. I can see what he’s brought to our team—he’s doing a fantastic job.”
When asked about the drivers who represent the biggest threats to Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, Brown names Max Verstappen and George Russell, who have both taken the most podiums this season against McLaren, as well as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
“In terms of drivers, I see Max, George, and Charles Leclerc as the biggest competitors. And among the teams, right now, it’s Mercedes. But someone like Verstappen should never be underestimated. He’s an excellent driver, just look at his recent win in Japan.”
Brown expresses concern about the possibility of Max Verstappen joining Mercedes, as Red Bull might then seek to recruit one of their two drivers. This is why he recently reached out to Raymond Vermeulen, Verstappen’s manager.
“It’s my job to explore the market and understand what’s going on. I want to be able to gauge whether something could trigger a domino effect, as that could reignite interest in my drivers. That’s why I reached out.”
He also explained why he would prefer Verstappen to stay at Red Bull: “If you ask me right now, based on the current situation, I’d rather see Max driving for Red Bull than Mercedes. What I can say is I have incredible confidence in Mercedes. I look at their history as an engine supplier.”
Brown is not worried about McLaren’s performance in light of upcoming changes to the rules regarding wings and their flexibility, with a technical directive coming in Barcelona. He believes his team will be able to handle the challenges ahead, especially with Mercedes by their side.
Indeed, he has full confidence in their engine partner for the 2026 regulatory revolution. Brown points to Red Bull’s attempt to change the regulations just months before the deadlines, something he sees as a warning for the team: “A lot of people are pushing for recent changes to the engine regulations.”
“If you think you’re competitive, you don’t want anything to change. With Mercedes, I see that they seem very comfortable. Just like we are today, regarding the upcoming rule changes in Barcelona. But that doesn’t mean we’re sitting back and relaxing.”
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Zak Brown: Why McLaren Is Watching Verstappen Closely Zak Brown: Why McLaren Is Watching Verstappen Closely
