Two-time Formula 1 world champion Mika Hakkinen has advised McLaren against pursuing Max Verstappen, emphasizing the potential disruption to team harmony. Hakkinen’s comments, made on the ‘Up to Speed’ podcast, highlight a philosophy where collective team strength and a strong internal environment are paramount for sustained success.
Hakkinen believes that introducing a driver of Verstappen’s calibre could destabilize the established dynamic within the Woking-based outfit. He questioned the logic of altering a successful driver pairing, stating, “If the team has two great drivers, why rock the boat?”
McLaren currently fields Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, a pairing widely regarded as one of the strongest on the grid. Norris, who secured a world championship in 2025, signed a multi-year contract extension in January 2024, committing him to McLaren until at least the end of the 2027 season.
Piastri also extended his agreement with McLaren in March 2025, securing his position with the team until at least the end of 2028. His base salary from the 2026 season onwards is approximately $20 million annually, with potential performance bonuses reaching up to $10 million.
Max Verstappen remains under contract with Red Bull Racing until the conclusion of the 2028 season. However, reports indicate that performance-based exit clauses within his contract are currently active. These clauses could allow him to explore alternative opportunities if he is not positioned within the top two of the Drivers’ standings by the summer break.
Speculation regarding Verstappen’s future has intensified throughout the 2026 season, fueled by his reported dissatisfaction with Red Bull’s car performance. McLaren’s acquisition of Verstappen’s long-time race engineer, GianPiero Lambiase, for the 2028 season has also been cited as a strategic move to attract the Dutch driver.
In response to the ongoing uncertainty, Red Bull has reportedly offered Verstappen a substantial contract extension, proposing a deal that would keep him with the team until the end of 2029. This offer, reportedly valued at around $80 million per year, aims to remove the existing performance-based exit clauses.
Verstappen has not yet publicly responded to Red Bull’s latest contract proposal. His manager, Raymond Vermeulen, previously stated that Verstappen intends to honor his current Red Bull agreement, despite the activated exit clauses.
Hakkinen drew parallels to his own successful tenure at McLaren alongside David Coulthard, a partnership that exemplified stability and strong team cohesion. He emphasized that such long-standing harmony is a significant competitive advantage, making unnecessary changes ill-advised.
“That’s the only way to achieve success, is to build incredible team spirit power inside, and you try to sometimes, in my opinion, if you would ask me what I would do, I would like to minimise that risk. That way you lose this kind of team spirit.”
The current Formula 1 season continues with McLaren maintaining its established driver lineup, while Max Verstappen’s contractual situation with Red Bull remains a subject of ongoing discussion and negotiation for the 2027 season and beyond.
