McLaren's boss assured that Verstappen is leaving Red Bull and what his destination would be

The Formula 1 season began with high expectations after the Australian Grand Prix, which once again demonstrated the intense rivalry between McLaren and Red Bull. Lando Norris took the victory, while Max Verstappen finished in second place after a contested race with Oscar Piastri. However, the tensions are not limited to the track, and the recent comments from McLaren's CEO have further ignited the debate.

In his interview with The Telegraph, the executive made a statement that caused a stir: "I think Max will leave Red Bull at the end of this year". This declaration aims to create uncertainty within the team that has dominated Formula 1 in recent times.

When asked about Verstappen's possible destination, Brown did not hesitate to point out: "More than likely, to Mercedes". Although he also mentioned alternatives like Aston Martin, where the presence of Adrian Newey could play a key role, the American was skeptical: "As good as Adrian is, and he is the best in history, you need a complete team around you. You need the culture, that takes time".

McLaren's CEO reaffirmed his stance on the German team as the best option for the three-time champion: "If I had to bet, I'd bet on Mercedes. In the last 10 years, they've won the championship seven or eight times. Last year they won five races. They have stability. We know that Toto (Wolff) likes him, and I think we all believe that HPP (Mercedes High Performance Powertrains) is the best equipped in terms of engines for the new regulations coming next year".

Another element fueling these speculations is the expiration of George Russell's contract at the end of the season, in addition to the incorporation of young talent Kimi Antonelli, who will begin his journey in Formula 1 with annual agreements. The possibility of Mad Max joining this line-up reinforces the rumors about his move to Mercedes.

Meanwhile, regardless of the uncertainty surrounding Verstappen, the tense relationship between Zak Brown and Christian Horner, Red Bull's director, continues to mark the championship's current events. The dispute, which originated in 2022 due to the Austrian team's budget cap breach, has intensified in recent years. The controversy grew even more in 2023, when Brown called for "greater transparency" in the investigation into the allegations of coercive and controlling behavior against Horner.

McLaren's executive did not hide his stance in this rivalry: "It's genuine. There's no mutual affection. I don't like how he behaves, and undoubtedly, he feels the same about me. But I think it's good for the sport. You need different characters, you need these rivalries. Some are friendly, sporting rivalries. Others are a bit more fierce. It's always been like that".

Finally, Brown referred to his team's morale boost after winning the constructors' championship last year, the first for McLaren since 1998. He assured that the team is motivated and willing to learn from the mistakes made. Although he acknowledged that they squandered too many opportunities despite having the fastest car for much of the season, he is confident in their evolution: "I think we're much smarter now and more confident. Last season, looking back, I feel like we followed too much instead of leading. We had a mindset of 'let's be as good as our rivals.' Now, when I talk to the team, we have a much clearer mindset of 'let's be better than them'".