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Zak Brown Stokes Verstappen-to-McLaren Rumors Once Again
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has set the transfer rumor mill in motion once more regarding Max Verstappen and his team following comments about the Dutch world champion.
By Nadia van Leeuwen - 2026-07-15T10:59:51.000Z - 1 min read
McLaren CEO Zak Brown seems to have found a favorite hobby in floating the idea of Max Verstappen behind the wheel of a papaya-colored car. His recent comments have reignited rumors of a move to McLaren for the Dutchman, stoking speculation across the Formula 1 paddock once again.
It is hardly the first time Brown has spoken out about Red Bull Racing's triple world champion. His remarks consistently act as fuel for the rumor mill, particularly regarding a potential departure from his current team despite Verstappen's ongoing contract.
Although Verstappen is under contract at Red Bull well into 2028, driver futures in Formula 1 remain an unpredictable game. Especially when top teams like McLaren openly signal interest and keep the prospect of a switch alive, debate heats up rapidly.
Such statements, no matter how broadly phrased, keep the pressure turned up and fuel ongoing discussions about potential shifts in the driver market. Whether Brown's words will ever amount to more than mere speculation remains to be seen.