The speculation about Max Verstappen's future in Formula 1 has taken another interesting turn after new reports indicated that the reigning world champion's management had reached out to McLaren after the CEO, Zak Brown, made comments during the Austrian Grand Prix weekend.
The Dutchman is still on a long-term deal with Red Bull, but it was Verstappen's representatives, not McLaren, who made the first move in exploratory talks, according to Sky Sports News, and there is renewed speculation about where the Dutchman could race if he ever chooses to leave Red Bull.
It's especially significant because Red Bull is still under scrutiny for its long-term viability, while McLaren has proven to be one of the most successful teams in the sport over the past couple of years.
Zak Brown Opens the Door For Verstappen—But Backs Norris and Piastri
Brown was quick to rule out any idea of McLaren actively seeking to replace either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri, stating both were committed to the team.
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Brown told Sky Sports that he would be "very surprised" if Lando or Oscar left, as they are "very happy. "We're very happy with them. However, Brown also acknowledged that Verstappen is a unique talent no team principal could ignore.
"If for some strange reason someone slipped on a banana peel getting out of the tub, then yeah, of course, Max is a four-time world champion," and they are very happy here."
Why Verstappen Could View McLaren as an Option
The latest contact was from Verstappen's side, not McLaren's, revealed Sky Sports reporter Craig Slater.
"I learned that this did indeed happen. Slater said it was "initiated by Max Verstappen's people. Slater says McLaren is still a good place to be because Verstappen is aware of the team's ability to bounce back and compete for titles.
He also said that McLaren's technical expertise under Andrea Stella and Zak Brown, along with the fact that McLaren has recruited many former Red Bull engineers, makes it even more appealing in the long term. Certainly, Gianpiero Lambiase's move to McLaren has also fueled these rumors.
At this time, there is no sign of formal negotiations. However, the fact that Verstappen's camp is said to have made the first move means that one of Formula 1's biggest transfer stories is far from over.