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'I'd bet on this team' - Brown says Verstappen's next destination for 2026
Max Verstappen is completing his final season at Red Bull Racing, McLaren CEO Zak Brown believes. According to the American, the Dutchman will join Mercedes when the new set of regulations will kick in next season.
Previously, Brown has made an enquiry to Verstappen's camp about the driver's contract situation at Red Bull Racing. While nothing followed in that regard, the Woking-based contract also announced that Oscar Piastri is signing a long-term deal, after Lando Norris was previously tied down. Therefore, McLaren have their seats filled, but that does not mean Verstappen will not make a switch according to the CEO.
He explained it to The Telegraph. "Oh I think he’ll leave at the end of this year. Most likely to Merc [Mercedes]. There’s been talk of Aston Martin, too, with Adrian Newey joining. But as great as Adrian is – and he’s the greatest ever – you need a whole team around you."
'I'd bet on Mercedes'
According to Brown, it takes time to build culture at a team, and he believes that is ready at the German squad. "If I was betting, I’d bet on Merc. In the last 10 years, they’ve won the championship seven or eight times. Last year they won five races (editor: Mercedes won four). They have stability. We know Toto likes him. And I think we all feel HPP [Mercedes High Performance Powertrains] is best-equipped on the power unit side heading into the new engine regulations next year."
Brown also sees that there would be room for Mercedes potentially signing the four-time world champion. Both George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli's contracts only last until the end of the current season.
This article was written in collaboration with Ludo van Denderen
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