Overview
- Zak Brown told De Telegraaf on Friday that McLaren’s “door is wide open” for Verstappen for 2028, 2029 or another year and that he enjoyed getting to know the driver.
- Multiple outlets report Verstappen recently extended his Red Bull contract to the end of 2030, a move that ties him to his current team for the long term.
- Several reports say Verstappen’s new deal may include an exit clause, but those reports cite unnamed sources and the clause has not been confirmed.
- McLaren says it will keep Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in place for the near term and that the conversations with Verstappen were exploratory rather than an immediate attempt to change the lineup.
- Brown’s public praise of Verstappen and the timing of the comments serve as a signalling tactic that could shape future negotiations, influence market perception and affect how rivals and sponsors plan for driver moves.