Driver flirting in the paddock: Christian Horner raves about McLaren’s duo, but Zak Brown remains unimpressed – his drivers are not candidates for a move
Will Max Verstappen really be on the wobbly in 2026? While speculation continues about a move to Mercedes, Red Bull remains calm – and Christian Horner takes the opportunity at Silverstone to make a clear statement: even in theory, there is currently no reason to look for a replacement. Neither at McLaren nor anywhere else.
“They have two great drivers who push each other and still maintain a healthy relationship,” Horner says of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. When asked about the possibility of Red Bull signing one of the McLaren drivers should Verstappen actually leave the team, Horner dismisses the idea: “I would be surprised if anything changed. Why would they want to leave the fastest car around right now?“
In sporting terms, McLaren is currently clearly superior to Red Bull – and the McLaren duo is firmly established. McLaren CEO Zak Brown confirms this: ”Our drivers aren’t going anywhere. They’re very happy, and so are we. There’s no reason to think about other options.”
In fact, the entire driver market is currently revolving around one question: What will happen to Max Verstappen? The world champion is under contract with Red Bull until 2028, but sporting exit clauses make a move possible in principle. According to Sky Italia, there is even a concrete offer from Mercedes – which Red Bull vehemently denies.
Helmut Marko, for example, speaks of an “annoying recurring question”: “He hasn’t signed – and he can’t,” says the Austrian. Horner also never tires of emphasizing: “Max is a central part of our team. His clear goal is to drive for Red Bull in 2026.”
Nevertheless, speculation about Verstappen continues, most recently fueled by statements from George Russell, who has not yet signed a Mercedes contract for 2026. Horner believes that Russell wanted to strengthen his own position in this way.
And Oscar Piastri as Plan B? Horner mentions him jokingly, but then becomes serious again: “We are fully focused on our current drivers. Max has clearly stated that he wants to end his career at Red Bull. That is our focus.”
