McLaren CEO Zak Brown has reiterated his long-standing admiration for Max Verstappen, describing the four-time world champion as a ‘dream candidate’ for the Woking-based team. Brown’s comments, made in a recent interview with De Telegraaf, highlight a continued interest in the Dutch driver.
Brown characterized Verstappen as ‘charming’ and a ‘racer pur sang,’ noting that few outside his inner circle would use such terms. He expressed being ‘really impressed’ with Verstappen as an individual.
The McLaren chief drew parallels between Verstappen’s focus and technical understanding of motorsport and that of Fernando Alonso. Brown previously worked with Alonso during his Indy 500 attempts with McLaren.
Alonso competed in the Indianapolis 500 with McLaren in 2017 and 2019, famously failing to qualify in the latter year. Brown has described that failure as ‘the worst experience of my life.’
Despite Brown’s interest, Verstappen signed a contract extension with Red Bull until the end of the 2030 season on August 20, 2026. This agreement concluded speculation regarding his future.
McLaren’s current driver lineup also features long-term commitments. Lando Norris, the 2025 Formula 1 Drivers’ World Champion, extended his contract with McLaren until at least 2030 on August 29, 2026.
Norris’s new deal includes a multi-year option to continue beyond that date. He secured McLaren’s first drivers’ title since Lewis Hamilton in 2008.
McLaren also secured the Constructors’ Championship in both 2024 and 2025. Norris has accumulated 13 Grand Prix victories and 48 podiums during his career.
Oscar Piastri, Norris’s teammate, also contributed to McLaren’s recent success with victories in the 2025 Hungarian and Azerbaijan Grands Prix.
The 2026 season has presented challenges for McLaren, including development delays and tyre management issues with the MCL40. The car operates within a narrow performance window.
McLaren introduced a significant upgrade package for the current Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend. Initial data from the Baku City Circuit suggests the car is behaving as simulated.
Verstappen, a four-time world champion (2021-2024), has not secured a victory in the 2026 Formula 1 season. He currently sits P6 in the Drivers’ Championship with 145 points after 14 rounds.
Red Bull remains the only top-four team without a Grand Prix win this year. Verstappen has achieved six podium finishes, with a best result of P2.
Beyond Formula 1, Verstappen made his debut in the Nürburgring 24 Hours in May 2026, driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3. He plans to continue in endurance racing in 2027, targeting events at Nürburgring and Spa-Francorchamps.
McLaren has also secured the services of Gianpiero Lambiase, Verstappen’s long-time race engineer. Lambiase will join McLaren as Chief Racing Officer in 2028, upon the expiry of his Red Bull contract.
Lambiase has served as Verstappen’s race engineer since 2016 and also held the role of Head of Racing at Red Bull. His new position at McLaren aims to strengthen the team’s leadership structure.
Brown had previously contacted Verstappen’s management in early 2025 to explore the driver market, particularly concerning Oscar Piastri’s contract.
In March 2025, Brown predicted Verstappen would leave Red Bull for Mercedes at the end of the 2025 season.
Despite these past discussions and current contractual situations, Brown stated that McLaren’s ‘door is still wide open’ for Verstappen for future seasons, including 2028 or 2029.
‘I’m much more impressed than I expected, seeing him as an individual. I feel like: I can really race with this guy. Because I hate racing against him,’ Brown stated.
