By: There was a time when Max Verstappen and Red Bull were a dominant partnership, an unbreakable bond seemingly destined to rewrite history. The driver was a true leader in his garage, capable of making the difference, providing the right motivation and leading even when the car was not the best. Yet, after four World Championships, this love story appears to have reached the end of the road. The crisis emerged with the Horner scandal, which caused the board of the drinks empire to clash with the heads of the racing division and the champion's managers. With his tough character, the Dutchman kept his head high through the storm, but now that the single-seater is no longer competitive, there seems little reason to continue.
In recent months, rumours of contacts with Mercedes have become more persistent, but McLaren and Aston Martin have since entered the picture. Among the various contenders, Zak Brown could emerge as the winner, having not denied his interest in the champion: the Silverstone-based “green machine”, in fact, would be out of the running due to its lack of performance, despite being ready to offer a staggering salary, while Toto Wolff would reportedly be unwilling to open his wallet, especially now that Kimi Antonelli is emerging.
McLaren's advantage
What McLaren could offer Verstappen would not be a radically more competitive single-seater, but rather an empire in the racing world, spanning IndyCar, GT and now WEC. The driver would naturally have the freedom to compete in different categories, exploring new horizons which, by his own account, appeal to him more than Formula 1 at present. And, naturally, the British brand would have everything to gain from his image. For now, there is no news or indication of negotiations, but the Formula 1 driver market is known to move after the summer break. Perhaps nothing will happen and the Dutchman will see out his contract in 2028 as planned, or there could be another storm in the paddock.
