Button Questions McLaren 'Peace' as Brown Faces Tricky Verstappen Call

Jenson Button isn't buying the idea that McLaren is a picture of harmony right now. The 2009 world champion suggested Zak Brown faces a "really tricky" call as Max Verstappen rumors refuse to die, despite Brown publicly dismissing any chance of signing the four-time champion.

Why it matters:

McLaren is juggling two elite drivers who both fought for last year's title until the final race. Button believes adding Verstappen to that mix would risk destabilizing a lineup that already requires careful management, especially with the team fighting at the sharp end in 2026.

The details:

• Verstappen's management and McLaren have both denied a switch is on the cards, yet speculation persists over a performance clause in the Dutchman's Red Bull deal linked to his championship position by Hungary.
• Button questioned whether a "Red Bull lifer" could ever truly fit into McLaren's culture, noting Verstappen has never known another F1 environment.
• Brown has tried to kill the story entirely, joking that Verstappen would only land at McLaren for 2027 if "someone slipped on a banana peel getting out of the tub."

What's next:

All three drivers remain locked into their contracts for now, leaving little room for immediate movement. But as the 2027 driver market begins to take shape, McLaren may eventually have to choose between loyalty to its current pairing and the temptation to sign the grid's most dominant force.