Brown welcomes future Verstappen partnership but backs McLaren line-up

Zak Brown would welcome the chance to work with Max Verstappen at McLaren, but his expression of interest comes alongside support for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri—not an announced transfer.

GPBeat · Newsroom25 Sept 2026, 12:23 · 2 min

McLaren Racing chief executive Zak Brown has said he would welcome a future partnership with Max Verstappen, without announcing a transfer plan or a change to his current driver pairing. RacingNews365 English reported his comments on 25 September 2026, citing De Telegraaf.

Brown mentioned 2028 and 2029 as possible years but made clear that his interest was not confined to either. According to RacingNews365’s account, he spoke with Verstappen several times during what he described as last summer. Brown said the conversations were exploratory, aimed at getting to know him better.

That interest came with an important qualification: Brown also said he was happy with his current line-up of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. His willingness to work with Verstappen should therefore not be read as an announcement that either McLaren driver will be replaced.

There is also a contractual question. RacingNews365 reports that Verstappen signed a Red Bull extension in August, ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, running through to the end of 2030. The report does not explain how a move in 2028 or 2029 could fit with that reported commitment, or establish any provisions allowing an earlier departure.

For now, the comments establish Brown’s interest rather than a route to a deal. They do not establish Verstappen’s intentions, his availability or an agreed timetable for joining McLaren.

Sources 01

SOURCEMcLaren claim door 'wide open' for Max VerstappenRacingNews365 English · Source date as found: 2026-09-25

Source context

Only RacingNews365 English’s account was supplied. The original De Telegraaf interview and independent documentation of the reported Red Bull extension were not available in the source material, so no independent cross-media comparison was possible.

Claims and supporting evidence 4

In its 25 September 2026 report, RacingNews365 English quotes McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown, citing De Telegraaf, as saying he would welcome working with Max Verstappen in the future. Brown mentioned 2028 and 2029 but explicitly extended his interest to any year. This is Brown's expression of interest, not an announced transfer, offer or agreed timetable.

This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. Zak Brown's stated interest in a future McLaren–Verstappen partnership. Reported on 25 September 2026; prospective references to 2028, 2029 or another unspecified year. The remarks are available through RacingNews365's English account, not the original De Telegraaf publication. Brown's willingness does not establish Verstappen's intentions or contractual availability.

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According to RacingNews365's account of the De Telegraaf remarks, Brown said he had spoken with Verstappen several times during 'last summer' to get to know him better. He characterised the conversations as exploratory, rather than describing a concluded recruitment process.

This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. Brown's account of his conversations with Verstappen. 'Last summer,' as described in the report published on 25 September 2026. This establishes Brown's account of the contacts and their purpose. No separate account from Verstappen, meeting record or negotiation document is supplied.

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Brown also said he was happy with his current line-up. RacingNews365 connects that statement with his earlier rejection of suggestions that Oscar Piastri or Lando Norris might be displaced. His expressed interest in Verstappen therefore should not be presented as an announcement that either McLaren driver will lose his seat.

This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. Qualification concerning McLaren's existing driver line-up. Brown's position as reported on 25 September 2026, with the source also referring to comments earlier that year. These are Brown's assurances, not a guarantee of McLaren's future line-up. The earlier comments are summarised by RacingNews365 without a separately supplied original source.

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RacingNews365 reports that Verstappen signed a Red Bull extension in August, before the Dutch Grand Prix, committing him through the end of 2030. This is relevant context for Brown's references to earlier potential years, but the supplied material does not explain how a move before the end of that reported term could occur.

This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. Reported Red Bull contract context for Brown's remarks. Extension reported as signed in August 2026, with a term through the end of 2030. The extension is reported by the secondary source rather than independently documented in the supplied archive. Neither guaranteed retention through 2030 nor a right to leave earlier can be established from this page.

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This article was produced with AI assistance. Source references make its supporting evidence traceable.