Sensational rumor: 'Max Verstappen and McLaren already in talks'

It is well known that Verstappen is uncertain about his future in Formula 1: will the four-time world champion retire after this season, will he stay with Red Bull Racing, or will he go somewhere else? First of all, the signals that Verstappen will call it quits after the current year are diminishing. It does, however, seem a serious option for the Dutchman to leave after this season, despite having a contract running through the end of 2028.

The next question is which team would sign Verstappen? David Coulthard mentioned on a podcast that Verstappen would be a better fit best for Ferrari than Mercedes. That’s the team for which the former champion could have driven this year if he had responded to the advances of CEO and team principal Toto Wolff. He currently has the drivers sitting first and second in the world championship under his wing, so would there still be room for Verstappen?

Not Ferrari or Mercedes, but McLaren could be Verstappen’s next destination. Saward writes in his newsletter that he has heard Verstappen is already in talks with the reigning constructors’ world champion.

Which driver would have to make way for Verstappen also seems clear. That would have to be Oscar Piastri; the Australian driver whose manager has been looking around the F1 paddock for some time for potentially interesting options elsewhere. GPblog was the first to report several weeks ago, that Piastri tops Red Bull Racing’s list if Verstappen leaves the Austrians. It could therefore become a straight swap between the two drivers.

If CEO Zak Brown does indeed want to secure Verstappen, he will need to dig deep into his pockets. The four-time world champion is reportedly the most expensive driver on the grid with an annual salary of $70 million. Lando Norris is also high on the list of top earners. Financially, that need not be a problem for McLaren, as the Bahraini owner—the state investment fund Mumtalakat—has the financial resources.

Verstappen will undoubtedly not make a decision about his future in the short term. He is known for always prioritizing sporting interests. If he can achieve his goals with Red Bull Racing, which has had a much better car since the Miami Grand Prix, the Dutchman’s preference will surely be to stay with the Austrians. At the same time, Verstappen is keeping a close eye on how McLaren develops and what that team can potentially offer (financially) as well.