McLaren Denies Verstappen Talks as 2027 Rumors Swirl

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has shut down speculation linking the team with Max Verstappen for 2027, insisting there have been "no conversations" with the four-time world champion. The Woking squad remains fully committed to Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's Red Bull contract contains a reported exit clause allowing him to leave for 2027 if he sits outside the top two at the summer break. With two races remaining before that deadline, he is seventh and mathematically unable to catch second-placed George Russell, making a departure from Milton Keynes increasingly likely.

The details:

• Speaking at Silverstone, Brown told media including PlanetF1.com that rumours were unfounded: "They’re rumours. No conversations." He added that he is "very happy" with Norris and Piastri.
• Verstappen trails Russell by 78 points with only 50 available from Belgium and Hungary, confirming he cannot satisfy the condition to remain at Red Bull.
• Mercedes has long been considered Verstappen's likely destination, but George Russell is understood to be close to an automatic contract extension for 2027.
• McLaren fueled speculation in April by signing Verstappen's race engineer GianPiero Lambiase, though his move is not scheduled until 2028 at the latest.
• Verstappen refused to confirm whether his management had spoken to McLaren, stating any updates would come directly from him. He maintained his focus is on Red Bull's recovery, noting the team is "on the way up" after a positive weekend in Austria.

What's next:

With Verstappen's Red Bull exit now appearing almost inevitable, the 2027 driver market will dominate paddock talk through the second half of the season. Yet McLaren seems intent on shutting the door on a blockbuster switch, leaving the Dutchman to evaluate a shrinking pool of elite seats as the summer break approaches.