P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Zak Brown “bets” on Max Verstappen Mercedes F1 move as he shuts down McLaren links
Zak Brown dismisses the idea of Max Verstappen joining McLaren in Formula 1 and predicts he will sign with Mercedes. The uncertainty around Verstappen’s future arose when he hinted at the possibility of leaving F1 due to his dislike of the 2026 regulations. Amidst changes in the F1 landscape, Verstappen’s race engineer is set to move to McLaren in 2028, fueling speculation about Verstappen’s potential switch. However, Brown is content with McLaren’s current drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and has no plans to replace them. Brown suggested that if Verstappen were to leave, Mercedes could be his likely destination. Both Piastri and Norris expressed admiration for Verstappen’s talent and the impact his departure would have on the sport. Norris emphasized that racing against someone of Verstappen’s caliber is always a challenge and would be a loss for Formula 1.
