F1 Today | Verstappen responds to McLaren links, Hamilton threatens to skip LEGO British GP race
Photo: Race Pictures
20:30, 02 Jul
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Henry Eccles is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs, and features across the F1 calendar. Since joining in 2026, he has produced high-volume reporting on the sport’s biggest stories, alongside feature pieces including analysis and historical content.
From Max Verstappen responding to rumours linking him with a move to McLaren, to Lewis Hamilton suggesting he will skip LEGO's long-awaited return to the F1 grid for the British GP driver parade - here are the main stories from today, July 2.
Verstappen responds to McLaren rumours after Norris admission
Red Bull's Max Verstappen has had his say on increasing speculation that he could join McLaren. Following the Austrian GP, Sky Sports reported that the Dutchman's camp had held a meeting with the reigning world champions, with the British outlet understanding that discussions had been initiated by Verstappen's team.
On Thursday, McLaren's Lando Norris suggested it was "cool" that many drivers, including Verstappen, would be interested in joining the British team. He said: "It's a good thing that a four-time world champion wants to come on board and wants to potentially join the team.
"I don't know how much of it's true, but it's a cool thing. If there's an opportunity for me to drive with other people, it's something I've always looked forward to, but it's not a thing for now. It's not a serious thing."
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Asked by GPblog on both the McLaren rumours and Norris' comments, Verstappen replied: "I'm not going to involve myself in that. I've said what I've wanted to say already before. If there is something new, or something that changes you will hear it from me and not from someone else..."
"I just focus on the job I have with my team, we are on the way up and that is nice to see. I had a really positive weekend in Austria, we're just trying to improve from there further... there's a lot of competition, but we're here just to try and go faster."
McLaren's Oscar Piastri, viewed by many as the more logical option to make way for Verstappen's potential arrival, also had his say, telling GPblog:"For me, I mean, it doesn't mean much. Obviously, Max is the talent he is, and looking around.
"I'm very happy with where I am. I've been told multiple times that the team are happy with me, and I trust them. So, for me, it doesn't really mean much. Obviously, a contract in place as well. So, yeah, for me, it doesn't change anything. I'm just trying to build on the success that I've had."
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Photo: Race Pictures
LEGO returns to F1 grid - but Hamilton may miss out
Elsewhere, it was announced that LEGO will return to the F1 grid at Silverstone this weekend, with all 22 drivers this time given the opportunity at a lap around the British GP circuit in their own mini LEGO car during the drivers' parade.
LEGO's F1 'debut' saw a highly successful, albeit destructive, drivers parade race in Miami in 2025 - with each driver duo sharing a two-seater LEGO replica of their team's car that year.
Valtteri Bottas having missed out on the Miami madness last time out, is raring to go at Silverstone, with the Cadillac man even revealing his strategy ahead of Sunday's 'race.'
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During Thursday's press conference, Bottas said: "I'm actually really excited because I missed it in in Miami last year when I was watching it and it looks so fun. So I think the key will be, because everyone is capped to 25 km/h, so I think saving distance is probably the key... and using tow."
However, Bottas' former Mercedes teammate, Lewis Hamilton, has cast doubt on whether he will participate, despite reflecting on the "hilarious" fun he experienced last time in Miami.
"I mean, it's the most dangerous part of the weekend," Hamilton joked. "So, I let Charles drive last time and it was just hilarious watching everyone crashing into each other. So yeah, I don't know whether or not I'll be in the LEGO car this year."
When asked if there was a specific reason why he may not be able to take part, Hamilton was tight-lipped: "I mean, there's not really much to say on the, on the car thing, that's something I need to take offline."
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Photo: Race Pictures
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Friday 03.07.26
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Friday 03.07.26
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