P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has spoken of his hope that Mercedes do not sign Max Verstappen, saying the “awesome” Dutchman would be joining a F1 team “on the rise.”
McLaren CEO Zak Brown expressed his hope that Mercedes would not sign Max Verstappen, as he believes the “awesome” Dutchman would elevate a Formula 1 team that is “on the rise.” Brown’s McLaren team has stood out this year, winning nine out of twelve Grands Prix and outperforming all competitors with the MCL39 challenger. Verstappen, with his notable victories in Suzuka and Imola, has been the closest rival to McLaren. However, Red Bull’s recent turbulence, including key personnel departures such as Christian Horner’s shock firing, has raised doubts about their stability. Brown sees Mercedes as a team ascending, particularly with the rumored Verstappen signing and potential top-of-the-line powertrain for new regulations. He considers a Verstappen-Mercedes partnership unsettling and hopes the Dutch driver will stay put. Brown fears that losing Verstappen would be catastrophic for Red Bull, which could impact the balance of power in F1. As McLaren emerges as a formidable challenger to Red Bull, Brown takes on the role of provocateur once held by Toto Wolff, playfully teasing the rival team and highlighting the importance of Verstappen’s presence at Red Bull. The shifting dynamics in F1, including possible engine developments and team configurations, indicate a challenging and competitive future for McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull on the grid.
