McLaren’s CEO, Zak Brown, stated that Max Verstappen is effectively “carrying” the Red Bull team, asserting that the Racing Bulls would be in a better position without him. This comes amid growing speculation regarding a possible move to Formula 1 competitors Mercedes.
The squad from Milton Keynes has faced a challenging 2025 season thus far, with Verstappen’s pair of victories being its sole source of pride, as the team struggles to establish consistency in its second seat. Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda have both found it tough to keep pace.
Verstappen remains the only driver capable of handling the demanding RB21 machine and has emerged as the sole credible contender against the dominant McLaren team to date. In stark contrast, Tsunoda, who took over from Lawson after the first two races, has struggled to match Verstappen’s pace and spent the Austrian Grand Prix engaged in a battle with Alpine’s Franco Colapinto towards the rear of the pack, ultimately finishing last among the cars still in the race.
At Racing Bulls, newcomer Isack Hadjar has made a strong impression, surpassing the scores of both Tsunoda and Lawson, the latter of whom has demonstrated notable progress since rejoining the Faenza-based satellite team.
In the lead-up to this weekend’s British Grand Prix, Brown stated that Red Bull would be trailing its junior team in the standings if Verstappen were absent. “Without Verstappen, Red Bull would be placed behind Racing Bulls,” he shared with Sky Sports News. “They’ve produced an impressive car and executed well, but I believe Max is the one propelling them forward right now.”
McLaren Brown: ‘I wouldn’t be taken aback’ if Verstappen moved to Mercedes
Speculation regarding Mercedes’ potential interest in Verstappen has been ongoing for quite some time, but it gained momentum when George Russell mentioned that the team had initiated discussions with the four-time World Champion. Team Principal Toto Wolff seemed to validate these conversations by not denying their existence, as Sky Italy reported this week that “serious negotiations” had occurred. Given the context of the rumors and their development, Brown is confident that both parties have met and explored a possible transfer.
“I believe that where there’s smoke, there’s fire. If everyone were truly settled in their positions, that’s the narrative they’d be sharing,” he remarked. “The mere fact that everyone is discussing it while no one is actually confirming anything indicates to me that talks are indeed happening. I mentioned some time ago that it wouldn’t surprise me to see Max in a Mercedes.”
Brown’s title-contending driver Lando Norris, who will have his own section at Silverstone this weekend, stated he has no thoughts on Verstappen’s possible future. “I’m indifferent to where he ends up. I respect Max as a rival. He can be quite challenging, but I relish our competitions,” he shared with Sky.
