Max Verstappen's management team has held discussions with McLaren about a potential move away from Red Bull, according to reports. The four-time world champion has a contract clause that could allow him to leave Red Bull in 2027 if he is outside the top two in the drivers' championship by the summer break.
Verstappen's Frustration with Red Bull's 2026 Season
The 28-year-old Dutchman has grown frustrated with Red Bull's underwhelming start to the 2026 Formula 1 season, with Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren leaving the Austrian team trailing in the Constructors' Championship. Verstappen had previously considered leaving the sport entirely due to dissatisfaction with sweeping regulation changes, but now appears open to remaining in F1 with a different team.
Sky Sports reporter Craig Slater revealed that Verstappen's representatives initiated the talks with McLaren. "There has been a meeting with his management and McLaren management, and it was instigated by Max's people," Slater said. "They are not doing that well this year, but Max knows they know how to build a winning car."
McLaren's Dominance and Driver Line-Up
McLaren dominated the 2025 season, with Lando Norris securing his first Drivers' Championship crown after repelling a late surge from Verstappen. The British team's management of the fraught title battle between Norris and Oscar Piastri led to a rift, with rumors connecting Piastri to Red Bull. However, that speculation has subsided, and a seat exchange could be possible if Verstappen moves to Woking.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown addressed the Verstappen rumors at the Red Bull Ring, leaving the door open but implying that either Norris or Piastri would need to leave first. "I'd be very surprised if Lando or Oscar went elsewhere, because they are very happy. Of course they have contracts but besides that, we're very happy with them and they are very happy here," Brown said. "If for some strange reason someone slipped on a banana peel getting out of the tub, then yeah of course, Max is a four-time world champion."
Red Bull's Turmoil and Verstappen's Contract Clause
Red Bull has been mired in turmoil in recent years, following a bitter dispute between former team principal Christian Horner and Verstappen's father Jos. The pair eventually patched things up, but Horner's departure and the appointment of Laurent Mekies as his successor have done little to quiet speculation about Verstappen's future.
Verstappen's contract includes a buy-out clause that would allow him to join a rival outfit in 2027 if he is outside the top two in the drivers' championship by the summer shutdown in August. His manager, Raymond Vermeulen, dismissed suggestions that an agreement is already in place for him to leave Red Bull. "Of course, there are release clauses, there always have been. But we've never exercised one," Vermeulen said. "We've always been loyal and we will remain so. We want to continue down the path with Red Bull and see Max finish his career here - but of course with the possibility of winning."
Mercedes Interest Cools Amid Antonelli's Rise
Verstappen has long been coveted by Mercedes chief Toto Wolff, with the two meeting aboard his yacht in Italy last season. Wolff denied the meeting had anything to do with a potential seat at Mercedes, though he has never made a secret of his ambition to secure Verstappen's signature. However, his pursuit appears to have cooled due to the emergence of championship leader Kimi Antonelli alongside George Russell, who won the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday. Verstappen finished second in that race and now trails Antonelli by 98 points in the standings after eight races.
