Zak Brown backs his last year's bet when predicting Verstappen F1 future

"If I was betting, I’d bet on Merc," Brown said in an interview back in 2025 about where Max Verstappen would end up if he opted for a transfer. The American CEO still holds the same view today.

With Verstappen's right-hand man, Gianpiero Lambiase joining McLaren, rumours about the Dutchman also making a switch to the Woking-based team also began. This website understands that continuing at Red Bull Racing appears to be an option that clearly ranks below several other possibilities.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Brown explained: "From McLaren's point of view, I couldn't be happier with Lando [Norris] and Oscar [Piastri]. We have long-term agreements with them, and I think it's the greatest driver pairing on and off the track. So we have no intention of replacing any of our two superstars," he commented.

The CEO continued with same prediction he gave a year ago as well. "Obviously, if one were to go away, then yeah, Max is a huge talent, but I'm not anticipating that. Where might he go? If I had to bet, I'd say to Mercedes."

Speaking to media, including GPblog, performances clauses in Russell's contract were raised with the Briton, and whether it was as simple as hitting certain targets and 'rolling' into a new contract.

The British driver answered: "Yes, pretty much. You hit the metrics and you move on. I will be here next year with the team and that's that, so there’s not very much more to say.