With Red Bull’s dominance in Formula 1 waning, Max Verstappen is being strongly linked with a move to Aston Martin or Mercedes. The four-time world champion is currently under contract with the ‘Red Bulls’, and if McLaren CEO Zak Brown has his way, that’s where he’ll stay. Brown has ‘incredible confidence’ in the 2026 Mercedes car and fears the worst if the Dutchman gets behind its wheel.
The last time Formula 1 revised its engine regulations, Mercedes reigned supreme from 2014 to 2020. The most recent aerodynamic changes benefited Red Bull, resulting in four consecutive world titles for Max Verstappen.
In 2026, both components will be overhauled. The cars will become smaller, lighter, and more agile, while the engine power will be evenly distributed for the first time: 50 percent from the combustion engine, 50 percent electric. With these significant changes on the horizon, McLaren CEO Zak Brown hopes that Verstappen will stay with Red Bull instead of moving to Mercedes. “If you ask me now and if I look at the current situation, I would rather see Max driving for Red Bull than for Mercedes,” he told De Telegraph.
Comfortable
Brown simply fears that Mercedes will once again take full advantage of the new regulations, potentially making a driver like Verstappen unbeatable. “There’s a lot of talk about next year’s cars, but no one knows for sure who’s in the best position. What I can say is that I have incredible confidence in Mercedes. I look at their track record as an engine supplier and their body language,” he said. “Lately, there have been many parties wanting to adjust the engine regulations. If you think you’re competitive, you don’t want to change anything. With Mercedes, I see that they seem very comfortable.”
