As Formula 1 roars back into action following the summer break, McLaren CEO Zak Brown has sparked intrigue with comments teasing a potential future link-up with four-time world champion Max Verstappen. The Woking-based team, fresh off their first constructors’ championship since 1998 last season, is riding a wave of success and optimism heading into the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend.
McLaren’s resurgence has been nothing short of remarkable, with the team dominating the 2025 constructors’ standings. In the drivers’ championship, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri holds a narrow lead, but teammate Lando Norris is hot on his heels, trailing by just nine points after a commanding victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The prospect of a McLaren one-two in the drivers’ standings is tantalizingly within reach.
Despite his team’s stellar performance, Brown’s comments to Dutch outlet De Telegraaf in Amsterdam have turned heads. The 53-year-old McLaren boss didn’t shy away from expressing admiration for Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, naming the Dutch superstar as his ideal teammate for endurance racing.
“Well, I would love to have Max as my teammate in long-distance racing,” Brown told De Telegraaf. “Because he recently showed how fast he is there too, under a pseudonym, on the Nordschleife.”
Verstappen, a dominant force in Formula 1 with four world titles to his name, has proven his versatility beyond the F1 circuit, including standout performances in virtual endurance racing. Brown’s comments suggest he’s keeping an eye on the 27-year-old’s broader skill set, hinting at a potential collaboration outside the F1 grid.
“Max is a great driver, a four-time champion for good reason,” Brown added. “In any case, it’s a pleasure for me to work with all the drivers in the McLaren programme. And with Max? Who knows, maybe one day.”
While Brown’s remarks are speculative, they fuel speculation about McLaren’s ambitions to potentially lure Verstappen in the future, whether in F1 or other racing formats. For now, McLaren’s focus remains on capitalizing on their 2025 momentum, with Piastri and Norris poised to battle for the drivers’ title.
As the Dutch Grand Prix kicks off, all eyes will be on McLaren’s dynamic duo—and perhaps a few glances at Verstappen, with Brown’s comments adding an extra layer of intrigue to the F1 landscape.
