McLaren F1 CEO Zak Brown has hinted at a potential move involving Max Verstappen as a teammate, sparking excitement around the driver line-up. While McLaren remains committed to its current talents, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, Brown’s comments suggest interest in adding Verstappen to their endurance racing efforts.
Verstappen, a four-time Formula 1 World Champion, recently expanded his racing repertoire by transitioning from his Red Bull RB21 to compete in GT3 events, starting with Porsche’s 718 Cayman GT4 CS. He secured the DMSB Permit A, a credential required for competing in GT3 machinery, paving the way for his endurance racing debut at the Nurburgring Langstrecken Series (NLS) scheduled for 26-27 September. This event falls between the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grands Prix on the F1 calendar.
Verstappen’s Impressive Debut and Industry Reaction
The Dutch driver attracted notable attention during his endurance debut, with over 1.3 million YouTube viewers tuning in to watch him perform at the Nurburgring. His participation earned widespread praise from F1 insiders, highlighting Verstappen’s versatility beyond the Formula 1 circuits.
Earlier in the year, Verstappen tested a GT3 car at the Nurburgring under the alias Franz Hermann, a move that impressed Zak Brown. In an interview with Dutch publication De Telegraaf, Brown acknowledged Verstappen’s talent and suggested he could see the two sharing the same team in endurance racing.
Well, ideally, I’d like to have Max as my teammate in endurance racing. Because he recently showed at the Nordschleife under a pseudonym just how fast he is there too,
Zak Brown remarked.
Brown’s remarks imply both admiration and intrigue in Verstappen’s capabilities in a different motorsport discipline, though McLaren has not committed to any driver changes at this stage.
Future Possibilities within McLaren
Despite the ongoing loyalty to Norris and Piastri, Brown left the door open for Verstappen’s involvement with McLaren. He acknowledged the Dutchman’s exceptional skill level, hinting at possible collaboration in the future without firm promises.
Max is a fantastic driver, a four-time champion for a reason. It’s a pleasure for me to work with all the drivers in the McLaren program anyway. And with Max? Who knows, someday…
Zak Brown said.
This cautious but hopeful stance offers a glimpse of potential strategic moves ahead in McLaren’s racing plans, particularly in endurance events where Verstappen’s experience could prove invaluable.
As Max Verstappen balances commitments between F1 and endurance racing, his expanding presence in different motorsport areas may influence team dynamics and the broader competitive landscape in upcoming seasons.
